The relationship between family physical activity environment and mental health in high school students: the chain mediating role of parent-child relationship and exercise behavior.

The family physical activity environment was significantly and positively associated with mental health in senior high school students.

• Direct association: β = 0.31, p < 0.001
• Cross-sectional survey of 2,049 senior-high-school students (mean age = 15.7 ± 1.2 years; 52% girls) from six provinces in China
• Structural equation modelling was employed to test direct and indirect effects, with sex, age, and socioeconomic status as covariates
• Family PA environment assessed using the Family Physical Activity Environment Questionnaire; mental health assessed using the Mental Health Diagnostic Test

The parent-child relationship independently mediated the association between family PA environment and mental health.

• Indirect effect β = 0.09, 95% CI 0.06–0.12
• Parent-child relationship quality was assessed using the Parent-Child Relationship Scale
• This represents one of two independent mediating pathways identified in the model

Exercise behaviour independently mediated the association between family PA environment and mental health.

• Indirect effect β = 0.07, 95% CI 0.04–0.10
• Exercise behaviour was assessed using the Physical Activity Rating Scale
• This represents a second independent mediating pathway alongside the parent-child relationship

A significant chain-mediating effect was observed, whereby family PA environment improved parent-child relationship quality, which in turn promoted exercise behaviour and subsequently better mental health.

• Chain-mediation indirect effect: β = 0.05, 95% CI 0.03–0.07
• The pathway proceeded sequentially: family PA environment → parent-child relationship → exercise behaviour → mental health
• The total mediated effect (including both independent and chain mediation pathways) accounted for 41% of the overall association between family PA environment and mental health

Adolescence is identified as a high-incidence period for mental health problems, and the family physical activity environment is described as a critical but understudied determinant of adolescent psychological well-being.

• The underlying mechanisms linking family PA environment to adolescent mental health were described as previously unclear
• The study was conducted among Chinese senior high school students as the target population
• Findings underscore the family PA environment as a critical determinant of adolescents' mental health