Work

Physical exercise and lower psychological distress among rural left-behind adolescents in China: evidence from a moderated serial mediation model

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objective: This study investigated the association between physical exercise and psychological distress among rural left-behind adolescent students in China. It also assessed the serial mediating effects of general self-efficacy and emotional intelligence and the moderating role of gender in this pathway. Methods: A total of 1,399 rural left-behind adolescent students in China took part in the survey. They completed the Physical Activity Rating Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, an Emotional Intelligence Scale, and a Psychological Distress Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, serial mediation analysis, and moderated mediation analysis in SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 27.0. Results: Physical exercise was significantly and negatively correlated with psychological distress. The total effect of physical exercise on psychological distress was significant. After general self-efficacy and emotional intelligence were included in the model, the direct effect of physical exercise on psychological distress remained significant, although reduced in magnitude. The separate indirect effects through general self-efficacy and emotional intelligence were -0.171 and -0.030, respectively, and the serial indirect effect through general self-efficacy and emotional intelligence was -0.063. The total indirect effect was -0.264, accounting for 81.73% of the total effect. In addition, gender significantly moderated the relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological distress, with emotional-intelligence-related indirect pathways being stronger among female students. Conclusion: Physical exercise was significantly associated with lower psychological distress among rural left-behind adolescent students in China. General self-efficacy and emotional intelligence played significant separate and serial mediating roles in this association, with general self-efficacy showing the larger indirect association. Gender further strengthened the protective pathway centered on emotional intelligence. These findings provide preliminary empirical clues and a theoretical framework for future physical-exercise-based mental health promotion programmes for left-behind adolescents. Longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to verify the temporal and causal directions among physical exercise, general self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, and psychological distress.

Source: Frontiers in Psychology

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1861638