Relationship between Tai Chi and the mood states, self-esteem, and subjective well-being of middle-aged and older adults: a cross-sectional study from China.

Significant gender differences were observed in mood states, self-esteem, and subjective well-being among middle-aged and older adults.

• Gender differences in mood states: t = -3.00, p < 0.05
• Gender differences in self-esteem: t = 2.49, p < 0.01
• Gender differences in subjective well-being: t = 3.70, p < 0.001
• Sample consisted of 710 middle-aged and older adults aged 45 to 65 years in Chongqing, China

Tai Chi exercise volume showed a significant negative correlation with mood states and significant positive correlations with self-esteem and subjective well-being.

• Negative correlation with mood states: r = -0.33, p < 0.001
• Positive correlation with self-esteem: r = 0.35, p < 0.001
• Positive correlation with subjective well-being: r = 0.41, p < 0.001
• Exercise volume was measured using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3)

Tai Chi exercise volume directly and positively predicted subjective well-being in middle-aged and older adults.

• Standardized direct effect: β = 0.47, p < 0.001
• Analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0 and Mplus 8.3 software
• Subjective well-being was measured using the Subjective Well-being Scale (SWS)

Mood states and self-esteem each exerted partial mediating effects between Tai Chi exercise volume and subjective well-being.

• Standardized indirect effect of mood states as mediator: effect size = 0.16
• Standardized indirect effect of self-esteem as mediator: effect size = 0.04
• Mood states were measured using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and self-esteem using the Self-esteem Scale (SES)
• Both mediation effects were partial, as a direct effect of Tai Chi on subjective well-being also remained significant

The chained mediation pathway 'mood states → self-esteem' demonstrated a statistically significant indirect effect connecting Tai Chi exercise to subjective well-being.

• Standardized indirect effect of the chain mediation pathway: effect size = 0.07
• The pathway suggests that Tai Chi exercise improves mood states, which in turn enhances self-esteem, which then improves subjective well-being
• This chain mediation was statistically significant