Physical Activity and Mental Health Among Chinese University Students: The Chain Mediating Roles of Psychological Resilience and Social Adaptability

Mental health (MH) issues among university students have garnered significant interest, highlighting the importance of identifying effective protective factors. This study investigated the relationship between physical activity (PA) and MH among Chinese university students, with a focus on the chain mediating roles of psychological resilience (PR) and social adaptability (SA). A questionnaire survey was conducted among 519 students from three universities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region using validated measures of PA, MH, PR, and SA. Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modeling with Bootstrap methods were applied to examine direct and indirect effects. Results indicated that PA was positively associated with PR, SA, and MH. PR and SA each independently mediated the relationship between PA and MH. Furthermore, a significant chain mediating effect was identified, indicating that PA enhanced MH through the sequential pathway of PR and SA. These findings suggest that PA contributes to MH not only through direct effects but also by strengthening internal psychological resources and external SA. Promoting PA alongside resilience and SA development may offer an effective strategy for improving MH among university students.