Connection between college students' sports activities, depression, and anxiety: the mediating role of self-esteem

Background and purpose As mental health issues receive increasing global attention, particularly the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms among college students, exploring effective intervention measures becomes crucial. This study aims to investigate the impact of physical activity on depression and anxiety among college students and to delve into the mediating role of self-esteem in these impacts. Methods A structured questionnaire was used to survey 326 undergraduates from three universities in Hainan Province. The questionnaire assessed their self-reported responses to physical activity, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the data collected in this study. Results The results indicate that physical activity significantly negatively affects students' depression (beta = -0.262, t = 4.268, p < 0.001) and anxiety (beta = -0.170, t = 2.849, p < 0.01). Furthermore, self-esteem partially mediates the relationship between physical activity and both depression (beta = -0.081, t = 3.158, p < 0.01) and anxiety (beta = -0.063, t = 2.806, p < 0.01). Discussion In conclusion, the findings provide a theoretical basis for developing physical activity programs aimed at enhancing college students' mental health, suggesting that future interventions should focus on increasing participation in physical activities and enhancing self-esteem to alleviate depression and anxiety, thus comprehensively improving students' psychological well-being.