Relationship between physical literacy and mental health in adolescents: a moderated mediation model with resilience and physical activity as variables

Introduction: Physical literacy is defined as the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge, and understanding to value and take responsibility for engaging in physical activities for life, and may be associated with higher mental health; however, few studies have explored the processes underlying these positive associations. Objectives: The present study aimed to explore the role of resilience in the relationship between physical literacy and mental health, and further examines the mediating role of physical activity. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited a sample of 1,022 (aged 10-18 years, Mage = 14.84, SD = 1.79, 44.9% male) Chinese students, grades five to twelve, via physical education courses. The hypothesized moderated mediation model was employed using Model 4 and Model 8 of the PROCESS macro for SPSS to examine the relationships between physical literacy, mental health, resilience, and physical activity. Results: Physical literacy was positively and significantly correlated with mental health (r = 0.364, p < 0.001), and resilience (r = 0.486, p < 0.001). After controlling for sex and grade variables, resilience mediated the relationship between adolescent physical literacy and mental health, physical activity moderated the relationship between physical literacy and resilience in the mediator model but not between physical literacy and mental health. Discussion: The present study suggests that could physical literacy predict increased levels of resilience, which could then lead to higher mental health. However, this mediation effect may fluctuate across individuals with different levels of physical activity. Overall, this study may reveal that physical literacy promotes resilience and mental health processes in individuals with different levels of physical activity.