The dynamic relationship between physical activity and psychological well-being in Chinese older adults: a longitudinal cross-lagged panel network analysis.
Xiang L, Yang J, Gou H, Hu C • Frontiers in public health • 2026
Physical activity and psychological well-being in older adults constitute a dynamic, bidirectional promoting system, with the path of influence evolving in stages from social support to personal growth.
Key Findings
Results
Network connection density between physical activity and psychological well-being increased over one year, indicating a continuous enhancement of system associations.
Network connection density increased from 56.84% at T1 (February–April 2024) to 60.00% at T2 (February–April 2025)
The study tracked 967 older adults from Guiyang and Duyun in Guizhou Province and Nanchang in Jiangxi Province
Cross-lagged panel network analysis (CLPN) was used, integrating both cross-sectional and longitudinal network models
The longitudinal design spanned approximately one year between measurement waves
Results
The core association in the cross-sectional network shifted from 'personal growth-openness' at T1 to 'autonomous value-self-assurance' at T2.
At T1, the strongest cross-sectional association was between 'personal growth' and 'openness' (r = 0.488)
At T2, the core association shifted to 'autonomous value-self-assurance' (r = 0.393)
This shift suggests the dominant structural relationships within the network changed over the one-year follow-up period
These associations were identified using cross-sectional network modeling within the CLPN framework
Results
Exercise frequency significantly predicted autonomous values one year later in the cross-lagged network analysis.
The frequency of exercise significantly predicted autonomous values (β = 0.166)
This was identified through the cross-lagged network component of the CLPN analysis
Physical activity demonstrated a temporal predictive effect on psychological well-being dimensions
The cross-lagged analysis examined predictive relationships between T1 physical activity variables and T2 psychological well-being variables
Results
'Meaning in life' plays both a driving and bridging role in the psychological well-being network and was identified as a key intervention target.
'Meaning in life' functioned as both a driver and a bridge node within the network system
Its dual role suggests it connects multiple components of the psychological well-being network
The authors identified it as 'a key target for interventions' based on its centrality in the network
This finding was derived from network centrality analyses within the CLPN framework
Discussion
The influence pathway between physical activity and psychological well-being was found to evolve in stages, shifting from social support to personal growth over time.
The authors describe a staged evolution in the path of influence between physical activity and psychological well-being
Early pathways were characterized by social support mechanisms, while later pathways involved personal growth
This staged progression was inferred from comparing T1 and T2 network structures
The finding was used to propose 'staged and precise health promotion programs for the older adults'
Methods
The study sample consisted of 967 older adults individuals tracked over one year using a longitudinal design.
Participants were recruited from Guiyang and Duyun in Guizhou Province and Nanchang in Jiangxi Province
Data collection occurred in two waves: T1 (February–April 2024) and T2 (February–April 2025)
The study employed cross-lagged panel network analysis (CLPN) as the primary analytical method
The sample size of 967 represents community-dwelling older adults in Chinese urban and semi-urban settings
What This Means
This research suggests that physical activity and mental well-being are closely and increasingly connected in older Chinese adults. Researchers followed nearly 1,000 older adults across two cities in China over one year, measuring both their physical activity habits and multiple dimensions of psychological well-being (such as sense of purpose, personal growth, and autonomy). They used a sophisticated network analysis technique that can map out which factors influence which other factors over time, and how strongly those connections are. They found that the overall strength of connections between physical activity and well-being grew stronger over the year, and that how often someone exercises can predict how strong their sense of personal values and autonomy will be one year later.
The research also found that the nature of these connections shifts over time. Early on, the links between physical activity and well-being appeared to operate through social mechanisms (such as social support from group exercise), while later the connections were more tied to personal growth. A psychological factor called 'meaning in life' emerged as especially important — it acted as both a driver and a connector within the overall system, linking physical activity to multiple aspects of mental health. This suggests that interventions targeting a sense of purpose may be particularly effective for improving well-being in older adults.
This research suggests that health programs for older adults should be designed with these evolving dynamics in mind — early programs might focus on group-based physical activities that build social connections, while later programs could emphasize activities that foster personal growth and a sense of meaning. The findings support the view that promoting physical activity among older adults is not just about physical health, but may also be a practical way to support mental and psychological well-being across multiple dimensions.
Xiang L, Yang J, Gou H, Hu C. (2026). The dynamic relationship between physical activity and psychological well-being in Chinese older adults: a longitudinal cross-lagged panel network analysis.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1736019