Physical activity and sleep quality among Chinese college students: the serial mediating roles of anxiety and depression

作者：Zhiwei Zhang, Zhaozhi Liu, Yongxia Lin, Mingjie Guo, Xiangdong Xu, Li Peng · 发表于：Frontiers in Psychology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1635406 · 被引用次数：7 · 研究领域：Physical Activity and Health、Sleep and related disorders、COVID-19 and Mental Health

Objective Physical activity is a modifiable lifestyle factor that plays a significant role in promoting mental health and sleep quality. However, empirical studies exploring the mechanisms by which varying intensities of physical activity influence sleep quality—particularly the mediating roles of anxiety and depression—remain limited. This study aims to investigate the relationships between moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity and sleep quality among Chinese university students, with a focus on the serial mediating effects of anxiety and depression. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October to November 2024, employing convenience sampling to recruit 5,803 undergraduate students from a university in Chongqing, China. Participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Data were analyzed using a bootstrap-based serial mediation model. Results (1) Compared to the low-intensity physical activity group, students engaging in moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity exhibited significantly lower levels of anxiety ( F = 380.82, p < 0.01) and depression ( F = 410.56, p < 0.01), along with better sleep quality ( F = 594.25, p < 0.01). (2) Physical activity intensity was negatively correlated with sleep quality ( r = −0.374, p < 0....