Physical exercise and college students’ mental health: Chain mediating effects of social–emotional competency and peer relationships

Physical exercise plays an important role in promoting college students’ mental health, but the mechanism of the effect of physical exercise on mental health is still under investigation. We conducted a survey with 1,168 Chinese college students using stratified cluster random sampling. Physical exercise, social–emotional competency, peer relationships, and mental health were assessed by using standard scales. Physical exercise was found to be positively correlated with mental health. Social–emotional competency and peer relationships had both independent and chain mediating effects on the link between physical exercise and mental health. These results reveal the mechanism of the relationship between physical exercise and mental health, and provide a preliminary basis for studying the causal relationship between them. Our findings also provide practical insights for intervention in and promotion of college students’ mental health.