Physical activity relates to adolescent social anxiety: evidence from a structural equation model involving resilience and self-efficacy.

BACKGROUND

Physical activity is consistently associated with reduced anxiety in adolescents, yet the psychological mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. This study examined whether resilience and self-efficacy independently and sequentially mediated the association between physical activity and social anxiety.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was used with 986 Chinese adolescents. Physical activity, resilience, self-efficacy, and social anxiety were assessed using validated scales (PARS-3, CD-RISC, GSES, and SASC). Structural equation modeling was conducted in R, and indirect effects were tested using bias-corrected bootstrap procedures with 5,000 resamples.

RESULTS

Physical activity was significantly associated with lower social anxiety both directly (β = -0.420, p < 0.001) and indirectly. The indirect association through resilience was significant [β = -0.049, 95% CI [-0.064, -0.035]], whereas the indirect effect through self-efficacy and the serial mediation pathway were not significant. Absolute fit indices were acceptable (RMSEA = 0.064, SRMR = 0.073), but the incremental fit indices fell below conventional thresholds (CFI = 0.805, TLI = 0.796); the structural estimates should therefore be interpreted with corresponding caution.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are consistent with a model in which resilience functions as a proximal correlate linking physical activity to lower social anxiety, whereas general self-efficacy did not emerge as a significant mediator in this cross-sectional sample. Given the study design and the modest incremental fit of the model, these pathways should be read as theoretically plausible associations rather than causal effects. The results nonetheless underscore the potential value of fostering resilience within physical activity interventions, and they identify longitudinal designs and domain-specific efficacy measures as priorities for future research.