The Influence of University Physical Education Environments on College Students' Sports Participation Behavior: The Chain Intermediation Effect of Developing Self-Efficacy and Exercise Motivation

To explore the influence mechanism of University Physical Education Environment on college students' Sports Participation Behavior and to examine the mediating roles of Developing Self-Efficacy and Exercise Motivation, this study constructs a chained mediation model based on social cognitive theory. A combination of stratified cluster sampling and convenience sampling was employed to conduct a questionnaire survey among 700 college students from multiple universities in eastern China. Measurements were conducted using the University Physical Education Environment Scale, Developing self-efficacy Scale, Exercise Motivation Scale, and Sports Participation Behavior Scale. SPSS and the PROCESS macro (Model 6) were utilized for correlation analysis, regression analysis, and Bootstrap mediation effect testing. Results indicate that the University Physical Education Environment significantly and positively correlates with Developing Self-Efficacy, Exercise Motivation, and Sports Participation Behavior. It significantly and positively predicts students' Sports Participation Behavior. Developing Self-Efficacy and Exercise Motivation both significantly mediate the relationship between the University Physical Education Environment and Sports Participation Behavior. Furthermore, the University Physical Education Environment indirectly influences Sports Participation Behavior through the chained pathway “Exercise Motivation → Developing Self-Efficacy,” with the chain intermediation effect being significant. The study demonstrates that the University Physical Education Environment not only directly promotes students' Sports Participation Behavior but also exerts indirect effects by enhancing individual Developing Self-Efficacy and stimulating Exercise Motivation. These findings deepen the psychological mechanism explanation of how the University Physical Education Environment influences students' Sports Participation Behavior, providing theoretical foundations and practical insights for optimizing Physical Education Environment provision and enhancing students' Sports Participation levels in higher education institutions.