Adolescence represents a crucial phase, characterized by rapid physical and mental development and numerous challenges. Physical activity plays a vital role in the mental well-being of adolescents; however, due to the prevailing educational philosophy prioritizing academic performance, adolescent participation in physical activities has yet to reach its full potential. Thus, this study aims to investigate the effects of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on adolescents’ emotional intelligence, psychosocial stress, and self-rated health status. To achieve this objective, a cluster sampling method was employed to collect data from 600 adolescents in 10 schools across five municipal districts of Changsha, China. A total of 426 valid questionnaires were returned and analyzed. Utilizing AMOS v.23, a structural equation model was constructed to validate the hypotheses. The findings reveal that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity significantly impacts adolescents’ emotional intelligence and self-rated health status. Conversely, it exerts a significant negative influence on their psychosocial stress. Moreover, emotional intelligence and psychosocial stress mediate the relationship between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and self-rated health status. In light of these results, education departments, schools, and families must embrace a paradigm shift in educational philosophies and provide robust support for adolescents to engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activities.

China’s aging population poses a significant challenge, drawing attention to regional disparities in pension benefits for urban and rural residents. Using diverse methods such as range, Gini coefficient, Theil index, regression-based inequality decomposition, and Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, this study examines pension disparities from 2010 to 2022. The findings reveal that pension benefits for both urban and rural residents are not only insufficient but also exhibit significant regional disparities. The Theil index decomposition reveals 60% of the disparity within regions and 40% between regions. Uneven economic development emerges as the key contributor to widening regional gaps, emphasized by the regression-based analysis. Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition identifies an unjustifiable 41.99% contributing to the pension gap. These findings emphasize the necessity for China to take relevant measures in narrowing the regional disparities in pension benefits to promote social equity.