Physical self-perception as mediator between physical activity and quality of life among Chinese university students

This study examined the mediating role of physical self-perception profile (PSPP) in the relationship between physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QoL) among China university students. A total of 420 students from five public universities in China participated in this quantitative study. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, the PSPP, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF. Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted using SPSS 27 and SmartPLS 4.0. The results indicated moderate positive correlations among PA, PSPP, and QoL. Mediation analysis showed that PSPP partially mediated the relationship between PA and QoL, with a Variance Accounted For of 28.8%. PA significantly predicted PSPP (β = 0.54, p < 0.001) and QoL (β = 0.42, p < 0.001), while PSPP also significantly predicted QoL (β = 0.31, p < 0.001). The findings of this study underscore the importance of PSPP in promoting health and QoL among university students. Integrating strategies to enhance PSPP may strengthen wellness promotion initiatives within higher education settings. The model involving PA, PSPP, and QoL variables will allow university administrators, healthcare professionals, researchers, and the general public to better estimate the expected physical activity involvement.