ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Psychol.
Sec. Sport Psychology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1572826
Why Have Extensive Efforts to Improve Adolescents' Physical Fitness Seen Limited Success? A Mediation Analysis of Physical Activity Enjoyment, Physical Activity and Physical Fitness
Provisionally accepted
- 1School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
- 2Key Laboratory of Exercise and Physical Fitness (Beijing Sport University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- 3Sports Coaching College, Beijing Sports University, Beijing, China
- 4China Institute of Sport and Health Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
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Objective: Investigate the association of physical activity enjoyment (PAE), physical activity (PA ) and physical fitness (PF) among adolescents using a mediation model.Methods: 845 students (420 males, 425 females) were selected via stratified random cluster sampling. Demographic data were gathered through a structured questionnaire. Adolescent PAE was evaluated using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale, while PA was quantified with the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3). PF was assessed on-site in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the National Physical Fitness Standards for Students. To analyze the relationships among these variables, correlation analyses and mediation techniques were employed.The correlation analysis revealed that PAE was positively correlated with PA (r = .622, p < .001) and PF (r = .291, p < .001), PA was positively correlated with PF (r = .256, p < .001).According to the results of the mediation analysis, PAE significantly predicts PA (standardized β coefficient=0.5274, p < .001) and PF (standardized β coefficient=0.2660, p < .001) in a positive direction. PA significantly predicts PF (standardized β coefficient=0.1878, p < .001).Bootstrap-generated confidence intervals (CI) revealed a significant indirect effect for PAE on PF (β = 0.269, 95% CI=0.147 to 0.389, p < .05) and a significant direct effect for PAE on PF (β = 0.721, 95% CI=0.513 to 0.930, p < .001). According to the proportion of effect calculation, the mediation effect was 27.2%.PAE is positively associated with PF, with PA partially mediated the relation between PAE and PF. This suggests that neglecting the development of PAE in adolescents may undermine efforts to improve PF through increases in PA levels.
Keywords: Exercise, exercise enjoyment, Teenager, Mediation analysis, Health Promotion
Received: 07 Feb 2025; Accepted: 16 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 PENG, YU, WANG, WANG, Shan and Ren. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Hong Ren, School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
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