Exercise adherence and subjective well-being: A chain mediating effect model

Exercise adherence plays an important role in promoting college students’ subjective well-being, but the literature on the influence and mechanism of exercise adherence on subjective well-being remains scarce. We recruited 894 college students via stratified cluster random sampling. Exercise adherence, subjective well-being, mindfulness, and personal growth initiative were assessed by using standardized scales. Exercise adherence was found to be positively correlated with subjective well-being. Mindfulness and personal growth initiative had both independent and chain mediating effects on the relationship between exercise adherence and subjective well-being. The results have revealed the mechanism of this relationship and provide a preliminary basis for studying the causal relationships between them. Our findings also provide a theoretical basis for interventions to promote subjective well-being.