Objective: To investigate the relationship between physical activity and negative emotions among college students in the post-epidemic era and determine if emotional regulation plays a mediating role between physical activity and negative emotions. Methods: 479 college students (293 males, 186 females, M = 19.94, SD = 1.25) who were under closed campus management during the epidemic period were surveyed using the physical activity rating scale (PARS-3), the self-assessment scale for anxiety (SAS), the self-esteem scale for depression (SDS), and the emotion regulation self-efficacy scale (RES). Results: (1) Physical activity, negative emotions, and emotion regulation self-efficacy among college students were significantly different by gender (p < 0.01). (2) Physical exercise was negatively correlated with anxiety and depression (r = −0.236, p < 0.01; r = −0.198, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with emotion regulation self-efficacy (r = 0.256, p < 0.01) in college students. (3) Emotion regulation self-efficacy was negatively correlated with anxiety and depression (r = −0.440, p < 0.01; r = −0.163, p < 0.01). (4) Emotion regulation self-efficacy also partially mediated the relationship between physical activity and negative emotions. Conclusion: (1) Physical activity in the post-epidemic era negatively predicted anxiety and depression in school-isolated college students. (2) Emotion regulation self-efficacy in the post-epidemic era partially mediates the relationship between physical activity and anxiety and depression.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of physical activity on mobile phone addiction among college students. A total of 9406 students, ranging from freshmen to seniors, from 35 colleges in four regions of Jiangsu Province were selected using the whole group sampling method. Questionnaires, particularly the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Long Form (IPAQ), the positive psychological capital scale (PPQ), the social adjustment diagnostic questionnaire (SAFS), and the mobile phone addiction index scale (MPAI), were administered. We found that physical activity negatively predicted mobile phone addiction among university students. Social adaptation partially mediates between physical activity and mobile phone addiction among university students, with separate mediation of psychological capital playing no indirect role. Psychological capital and social adjustment mediate the chain between physical activity and mobile phone dependence among college students. Our findings suggest that physical activity is an important external factor influencing college students’ mobile phone dependence, and it indirectly affects university students’ mobile phone addiction through psychological capital and social adaptation. Improving the physical activity level of college students, enhancing their psychological capital, and promoting improved social adaptation are important ways to prevent mobile phone addiction among college students.

Youth subjective well-being is enhanced not only from physical exercise but also from internet use. Based on the 2017 China General Social Survey (CGSS) data, the Bootstrap method was used to examine the mechanisms of the effects of physical exercise and internet use on youth subjective well-being. In this study, the questionnaire data of 619 Chinese young people (18–35 years old) were selected as the sample source. It was found that physical exercise (2.881 ± 1.352) and internet use (4.544 ± 0.756) had positive effects on youth subjective well-being (88.762 ± 11.793). Life satisfaction (2.253 ± 0.826) partially mediated the development of physical exercise and internet use on subjective well-being, with indirect effects of 34.1% and 30.4%, respectively. A social mindset (10.181 ± 1.966) played a moderating role in the relationship between physical exercise and youth subjective well-being and internet use and youth subjective well-being in both groups. The positive effects of physical exercise and internet use on youth subjective well-being gradually increased with the improvement in social mindset. This study revealed the mechanisms of physical activity and internet use on subjective well-being and that life satisfaction and the social mindset of youth are essential factors influencing subjective well-being.

Objective: To explore the relationship between psychological stress and the emotional state of Chinese college students and the moderating effect of physical exercise. Methods: Students in a university in Jiangsu Province were randomly selected for the survey, and questionnaires were administered using the Physical Activity Rating Scale, the Profile of Mood States, and the Chinese College Student Psychological Stress Scale. A total of 715 questionnaires were distributed, and 494 valid questionnaires were returned. Among the students, there were 208 (42.1%) males and 286 (57.9%) females, with a mean age of 19.27 years (SD = 1.06). Results: We found a significant negative correlation between physical exercise and psychological stress (r = −0.637, p < 0.001); a significant negative correlation between physical exercise and emotional state (r = −0.032, p < 0.001); and a significant positive correlation between psychological stress and emotional state (r = 0.51, p < 0.001). Physical exercise negatively moderates the relationship between psychological stress and emotional state (B = −0.012, p < 0.01, ΔR² = 0.007). Conclusion: Physical exercise is negatively correlated with both emotional state and psychological stress. Physical exercise can reduce the influence of psychological stress on emotional state and promote emotional health.

Considering the role of school adjustment in the development of adolescent populations, it is particularly essential to find ways to improve the school adjustment of middle school students and to develop further the socialization of adolescents. Based on the 2014–2015 data of the China Education Panel Survey, the effects of physical exercise on adolescents’ school adjustment and possible mechanisms were systematically explored. Based on the ordinary least squares method, instrumental variable method, and propensity score matching method, the results of the study showed that physical exercise significantly improved adolescents’ school adjustment. The results of the mediation effects test indicated that physical exercise not only enhances adolescents’ school adjustment by alleviating negative emotions, but also enhances adolescents’ school adjustment by improving prosocial behavior. This study reveals the mechanism of physical exercise and adolescents’ school adjustment, and provides reasonable and effective suggestions for better promoting adolescents’ school adjustment and formulating related policies.

This study aims to explore the relationship between physical activity and interpersonal distress among high school students and its mechanism of action. Based on triadic reciprocal determinism, social cognitive theory, and the protective factor–protective factor Model, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 2072 high school students using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Version (IPAQ-S), the Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale, the Adolescent Psychological Resilience Scale, and the Interpersonal Relationship Comprehensive Diagnosis Scale. The results showed that (1) physical activity has a significant adverse predictive effect on interpersonal distress among high school students. (2) Physical activity can not only directly predict interpersonal distress among high school students, but also indirectly predict interpersonal distress through the mediating effect of regulatory emotional self-efficacy. (3) Psychological resilience plays a moderating role in the relationship between emotional regulation self-efficacy, and interpersonal distress. For high school students with low psychological resilience, emotional regulation self-efficacy has a more significant predictive effect on interpersonal distress; however, for high school students with high psychological resilience, the moderating effect is not significant.