Higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower levels of depression among Chinese college students, with subjective exercise experience—primarily positive wellbeing—serving as a significant mediator in this relationship.
Key Findings
Results
A substantial proportion of Chinese college students reported depressive symptoms.
2,516 college students in China were selected as research subjects.
707 had mild depression (31%) and 214 had severe depression (9%).
Depression was assessed using a self-rating depression scale.
Results
Higher levels of physical activity were associated with significantly lower levels of depression.
Emerging adults with high levels of PA had significantly lower levels of depression than those with medium and low levels of PA.
Those with low levels of PA had higher levels of depression than those with medium levels of PA.
Physical activity was assessed using the short form of an international physical activity questionnaire.
The relationship was described as: 'the more PA that one engaged in, the better their depression status.'
Results
Higher levels of physical activity were associated with more positive and fewer negative subjective exercise experiences.
Compared with those who engaged in medium or low levels of PA, emerging adults with high levels of PA experienced more positive wellbeing (PWB) and fewer negative emotions (psychological distress, PD; fatigue) during exercise.
Compared with emerging adults with lower levels of PA, those with medium levels of PA experienced fewer negative emotions (fatigue).
Subjective exercise experience was assessed using a subjective exercise experience scale measuring PWB, PD, and fatigue.
Results
Depression was significantly correlated with physical activity and all three dimensions of subjective exercise experience.
Depression was negatively correlated with PA and PWB.
Depression was positively correlated with PD and fatigue.
PA, PWB, PD, and fatigue all served as significant predictors of depression.
Their total predictive power was 45.6%.
Results
Physical activity had both a significant direct effect on depression and a significant total indirect effect through subjective exercise experience mediators.
Four significant mediation pathways were identified.
Positive wellbeing (PWB) emerged as the primary mediator.
The most substantial pathways included direct mediation through PWB and serial mediation through PWB and PD.
PA had a significant direct effect on depression in addition to indirect effects through mediators.
Shen Q, Hu L, Geng S, Cui L. (2026). The association between physical activity and depression in emerging adults: the pathway of subjective exercise experience.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1718409