The mediating role of behavioral systems in linking physical activity and anxiety symptoms in college students

Data show that the detection rate of anxiety symptoms among college students has risen from 16.6 to 34.8% over the past 10 years, and that college students are gradually becoming a high prevalence group for anxiety symptoms.This study aims to investigate the relationship between physical activity, behavioral inhibition and activation, and anxiety symptoms in college students. Specifically, it seeks to identify the mediating role of individual subcomponents of behavioral inhibition and activation in the association between physical activity and anxiety symptoms. A total of 5125 college students were recruited to participate in the study. Participants completed the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3, the Behavioral Inhibition/Activation System Scale, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale. ANOVA, linear regression analysis and structural equation modelling were used to analyse the data and subcomponents of each variable (physical activity, anxiety symptoms, BIS/BAS) were analysed. Anxious college students demonstrated significantly lower scores in reward responsiveness, drive, and fun seeking, while exhibiting higher scores in behavioral inhibition. Additionally, these students engaged in physical activity at lower intensities, for shorter times, with reduced frequency, and overall less total exercise (all p < 0.001). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was observed between levels of physical activity and anxiety (r= - 0.145, p < 0.001), while a weak correlation was identified between physical activity levels and the behavioral inhibition system (r= - 0.020, p = 0.156). Conversely, physical activity levels were significantly positively correlated with the behavioral activation subcomponents of reward responsiveness (r = 0.062, p < 0.001), drive (r = 0.122, p < 0.001), and fun seeking (r = 0.067, p < 0.001). Physical activity, behavioral inhibition, and behavioral activation were significant predictors of anxiety symptoms among university students. Among male students, exercise intensity (Beta= - 0.088, p = 0.001) and reward responsiveness (Beta= - 0.255, p < 0.001) showed the strongest correlations with anxiety levels, while among female students, exercise time (Beta = - 0.084, p < 0.001) and behavioral inhibition (Beta = 0.291, p < 0.001) were the most highly correlated. Physical activity levels had a direct effect of 84.37% on reducing anxiety symptoms (Beta= - 0.286, p < 0.001), with 15.63% of the effect mediated by the behavioral inhibition and activation system (Beta= - 0.053, p < 0.001). The mediating effects of the behavioral inhibition and activation system were stronger in females (29.92%, Beta= - 0.076, p = 0.001) compared to males (15.76%, Beta= - 0.061, p < 0.001). Factor loadings indicated that exercise time (male: 1.81, female: 2.71) and drive (male: 1.01, female: 1.04) were more effective in alleviating anxiety symptoms, particularly in the dimensions of uncontrollable worrying (1.07), worry too much (1.03), trouble relaxing (1.00), and nervousness (1.00). Physical activity exerts a direct influence on anxiety, with its anxiolytic effects partially mediated by the behavioral inhibition and activation system. This mediating effect is most pronounced in the female college student population.