The effects of physical exercise on subjective well-being among older adults based on Bio-Psycho-Social chain Model

Amid the rapid socioeconomic transformations underway in contemporary China, the older adults SWB has become a pivotal indicator for evaluating societal progress. Physical exercise, recognized as a health investment encompassing preventative, proactive, and social aspects, has substantially progressed beyond its traditional function of merely improving physical strength and fitness. Utilizing data from the 2023 China General Social Survey, this study investigates the effects of physical exercise on the older adults SWB within the framework of the Bio-Psycho-Social model. Employing an ordered logit model, the analysis reveals that physical exercise positively impacts the older adults SWB. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that physical health, mental health, and social interaction function as parallel mediators and collectively exhibit a sequential mediating effect, as evidenced through generalized structural equation modeling. This research contributes novel insights into the pathways by which physical exercise affects the older adults SWB and offers important policy implications for addressing the biopsychosocial challenges associated with population aging.