The impact of physical exercise on adolescent social anxiety: the serial mediating effects of sports self-efficacy and expressive suppression
Abstract Objective This study aims to investigate the impact of physical exercise on adolescent social anxiety and to elucidate the serial mediating roles of sports self-efficacy and expressive suppression within this context. Methods Utilizing a convenience random cluster sampling technique, this s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01107-4 |
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| author | Jingtao Wu Yanhong Shao Jun Hu Xinjuan Zhao |
| author_facet | Jingtao Wu Yanhong Shao Jun Hu Xinjuan Zhao |
| author_sort | Jingtao Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective This study aims to investigate the impact of physical exercise on adolescent social anxiety and to elucidate the serial mediating roles of sports self-efficacy and expressive suppression within this context. Methods Utilizing a convenience random cluster sampling technique, this study surveyed 2500 primary and secondary school students across Sichuan, Guangdong, Shandong, Henan, and Jiangxi provinces. The survey utilized validated scales to assess physical exercise, sports self-efficacy, expressive suppression, and social anxiety among adolescents. Results The study revealed that: (1) Physical exercise has a significant negative correlation with social anxiety (r = -0.32, p < 0.01); (2) Sports self-efficacy significantly mediated the relationship between physical exercise and social anxiety, with an indirect effect of -0.15 (95% CI [-0.22, -0.09]); (3) Expressive suppression significantly mediated the relationship between physical exercise and social anxiety, with an indirect effect of -0.11 (95% CI [-0.17, -0.06]); (4) Sports self-efficacy and expressive suppression exerted a significant serial mediating effect on the relationship between physical exercise and social anxiety, with an indirect effect of -0.05 (95% CI [-0.08, -0.02]). Conclusion Physical exercise not only directly alleviates social anxiety in adolescents but also indirectly diminishes social anxiety through the enhancement of sports self-efficacy and the reduction of expressive suppression. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d80e5b02cd9e4f3bbb4e0da13b437bea |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2052-1847 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj-art-d80e5b02cd9e4f3bbb4e0da13b437bea2025-08-20T02:52:19ZengBMCBMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation2052-18472025-03-0117111510.1186/s13102-025-01107-4The impact of physical exercise on adolescent social anxiety: the serial mediating effects of sports self-efficacy and expressive suppressionJingtao Wu0Yanhong Shao1Jun Hu2Xinjuan Zhao3School of Physical Education, Leshan Normal University, Sichuan ProvinceXiangshui Teacher Development Center, Huanghai Road Xiangshui CountySchool of Physical Education, Leshan Normal University, Sichuan ProvinceSchool of Physical Education, Leshan Normal University, Sichuan ProvinceAbstract Objective This study aims to investigate the impact of physical exercise on adolescent social anxiety and to elucidate the serial mediating roles of sports self-efficacy and expressive suppression within this context. Methods Utilizing a convenience random cluster sampling technique, this study surveyed 2500 primary and secondary school students across Sichuan, Guangdong, Shandong, Henan, and Jiangxi provinces. The survey utilized validated scales to assess physical exercise, sports self-efficacy, expressive suppression, and social anxiety among adolescents. Results The study revealed that: (1) Physical exercise has a significant negative correlation with social anxiety (r = -0.32, p < 0.01); (2) Sports self-efficacy significantly mediated the relationship between physical exercise and social anxiety, with an indirect effect of -0.15 (95% CI [-0.22, -0.09]); (3) Expressive suppression significantly mediated the relationship between physical exercise and social anxiety, with an indirect effect of -0.11 (95% CI [-0.17, -0.06]); (4) Sports self-efficacy and expressive suppression exerted a significant serial mediating effect on the relationship between physical exercise and social anxiety, with an indirect effect of -0.05 (95% CI [-0.08, -0.02]). Conclusion Physical exercise not only directly alleviates social anxiety in adolescents but also indirectly diminishes social anxiety through the enhancement of sports self-efficacy and the reduction of expressive suppression.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01107-4Physical exerciseSocial anxietySports self-efficacyExpressive suppressionAdolescents |
| spellingShingle | Jingtao Wu Yanhong Shao Jun Hu Xinjuan Zhao The impact of physical exercise on adolescent social anxiety: the serial mediating effects of sports self-efficacy and expressive suppression BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation Physical exercise Social anxiety Sports self-efficacy Expressive suppression Adolescents |
| title | The impact of physical exercise on adolescent social anxiety: the serial mediating effects of sports self-efficacy and expressive suppression |
| title_full | The impact of physical exercise on adolescent social anxiety: the serial mediating effects of sports self-efficacy and expressive suppression |
| title_fullStr | The impact of physical exercise on adolescent social anxiety: the serial mediating effects of sports self-efficacy and expressive suppression |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of physical exercise on adolescent social anxiety: the serial mediating effects of sports self-efficacy and expressive suppression |
| title_short | The impact of physical exercise on adolescent social anxiety: the serial mediating effects of sports self-efficacy and expressive suppression |
| title_sort | impact of physical exercise on adolescent social anxiety the serial mediating effects of sports self efficacy and expressive suppression |
| topic | Physical exercise Social anxiety Sports self-efficacy Expressive suppression Adolescents |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01107-4 |
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