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Physical exercise and adolescent mental toughness: mediating effects of family support and socioeconomic status

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Mental toughness refers to an individual's capacity to respond positively to stress and frustration in social contexts, and it is considered a crucial aspect of mental health. Physical education is increasingly being recognized as an effective means of promoting psychological well-being among adolescents. Objectives: This paper explores the relationship between physical exercise and mental toughness in adolescents, examining the underlying mechanisms through the lenses of family support and socioeconomic status (SES). Results: < 0.001) emerged as an important mediating factor, highlighting the role of social interaction during physical exercise in fostering mental toughness and resilience among adolescents. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study demonstrates that regular physical exercise is positively associated with higher psychological resilience among adolescents, and this relationship is partially mediated by enhanced family support and better peer relationships. These findings underscore the importance of supportive family and peer environments in amplifying the beneficial effects of exercise on youth resilience, and they highlight the need for future longitudinal research and intervention efforts to confirm these causal pathways and extend the insights to broader populations.

Source: Frontiers in Psychology

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1670466

Authors: Weihan Yuan, Guihong Wang, Zixian Wang

Institutions: Shenyang Sport University, National Research Tomsk State University, Shenyang Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Resilience and Mental Health

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801