The relationship between home-based physical activity and general well-being among Chinese university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediation effect of self-esteem

COVID-19 led to widespread school closures and a shift to online learning, restricting students’ outdoor activities and potentially impacting mental health. University students, a vulnerable group during this developmental period, faced increased psychological stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms during isolation. Because physical activity during the pandemic was largely home-based, the study investigates whether engaging in home-based physical activity is associated with better general well-being among Chinese university students and whether self-esteem mediates this relationship. The study proposes two hypotheses: (H1) higher levels of home-based physical activity are associated with higher self-esteem and higher general well-being; and (H2) self-esteem mediates the relationship between home-based physical activity and general well-being.

Prior research indicates a positive association between physical activity and general well-being among university students, including during COVID-19, suggesting that increased activity enhances well-being. Studies also show physical activity benefits self-esteem; participation in activities and active engagement are linked to improved self-esteem. Self-esteem, conceptualized as a person’s evaluation of self-worth, is positively associated with general well-being, with higher self-esteem linked to better overall well-being. These strands of evidence support the conceptual model positing home-based physical activity as an antecedent of self-esteem, which in turn influences general well-being.

Design and participants: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted from April to May 2020. A total of 350 students from two universities in Sichuan and Shandong provinces were invited; 332 responses were received and 311 valid questionnaires were retained (response rate 93.7%; valid rate 94.85%). The sample included 101 freshmen, 88 sophomores, 79 juniors, and 43 seniors; 41 males and 270 females; mean age 20.02 ± 0.71 years, across diverse majors. Measures: (1) Physical Activity Rating Scale (five-point Likert; validated for university students). Home-based physical activity amount was categorized by daily duration: small (<20 min/day), medium (21–30 min/day), large (>31 min/day). (2) Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (10 items; 4-point Likert from 1 = extremely inconsistent to 4 = extremely consistent; half reverse-scored; higher scores indicate higher self-esteem; internal consistency α = 0.89). (3) General Well-Being (GWB) Scale, Chinese revision retaining 18 items across six dimensions (life satisfaction/interest, health concerns, energy, mood, behavioral control, relaxation); higher scores indicate higher well-being; internal consistency α = 0.85. Approximate completion time for all scales was ~8 minutes. Statistical analysis: Analyses were conducted in SPSS 19.0. Assumptions for one-way ANOVA were checked, including normality and homogeneity of variances (Levene’s tests reported). One-way ANOVAs examined effects of physical activity amount (independent variable) on general well-being and self-esteem (dependent variables). Pearson correlations assessed associations among activity amount, self-esteem, and general well-being. Mediation was tested via regression using a dummy-coded approach with medium (X1) and large (X2) activity levels predicting outcomes: Step 1, Y (general well-being) on X1 and X2; Step 2, M (self-esteem) on X1 and X2; Step 3, Y on X1, X2, and M. Variables for Y and M were mean-centered; activity categories were virtually/dummy coded.

- Homogeneity of variances was supported prior to ANOVA (e.g., Levene’s statistic for general well-being 0.798, p = 0.455; for self-esteem 2.198, p = 0.113). - ANOVA showed significant effects of home-based physical activity amount on: General well-being (F = 3.46, p < 0.05) and Self-esteem (F = 6.99, p < 0.01). Students with small amounts of activity had lower general well-being and self-esteem than those with medium or large amounts. - Descriptive comparisons (Table 2): Self-esteem means (x±s): small 27.47 ± 4.78; medium 29.70 ± 5.18; large 30.11 ± 4.34. General well-being: small 75.09 ± 5.50; medium 77.12 ± 5.29; large 77.23 ± 5.88. - Correlations (Table 3): Activity amount with self-esteem r = 0.190 (p < 0.01); Activity amount with general well-being r = 0.126 (p < 0.05); Self-esteem with general well-being r = 0.269 (p < 0.01). - Mediation (Table 4): Step 1, general well-being regressed on medium and large activity was significant; Step 2, self-esteem regressed on medium and large activity was significant; Step 3, when self-esteem was included, medium (t ≈ 1.556, p > 0.05) and large (t = 1.617, p > 0.05) activity were no longer significant, while self-esteem remained a significant positive predictor of general well-being (t = 4.445, p < 0.001). The mediating effect accounted for 32.5% of the total effect, indicating full mediation by self-esteem between medium/large home-based physical activity and general well-being.

The findings confirm that higher levels of home-based physical activity are associated with better general well-being among university students during COVID-19 and that this association operates through self-esteem. Physical activity may alleviate negative emotions and psychological stress, thereby enhancing well-being. Concurrently, engaging in regular activity appears to bolster self-esteem, which in turn is linked to higher general well-being. The full mediation suggests that self-esteem is a key psychological pathway translating activity engagement into improved well-being in this context. These results align with prior literature on the benefits of physical activity for both self-esteem and mental health and underscore the importance of maintaining adequate home-based activity during periods of restricted mobility.

The study demonstrates that home-based physical activity is positively associated with general well-being among Chinese university students during the COVID-19 pandemic and that self-esteem fully mediates this relationship for medium and large activity levels. Practically, promoting feasible home-based physical activity may enhance students’ self-esteem and, consequently, their overall well-being during disruptions such as pandemics. Future research could broaden the sample beyond two institutions and one country, assess and control for mental health status, and examine additional mediators (e.g., social support, self-efficacy) or moderators (e.g., gender, baseline fitness) to refine theoretical models and intervention strategies.

- Sampling from only two Chinese universities limits external validity and generalizability. - The sample consists solely of Chinese university students; results may not extend to other countries or populations. - Participants were not screened for mental health conditions; inclusion of individuals with mental illness may confound associations. - Only one mediator (self-esteem) was examined; other relevant mediating or moderating variables were not explored. - Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference.