The mediating role of coping styles between physical activity and sense of meaning in life among Chinese college students

• Published in: Scientific Reports
• Main Authors: Chaowei Zhang, Jingyu Zhang, Wenqi Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-10-01
• Subjects: Physical activity; Sense of life meaning; Chinese college students; Coping style; Meaning-making model
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16472-w
• ISSN: 2045-2322

Abstract Many college students may face a lost or diminished sense of meaning in life (SML) in a rapidly changing and highly competitive society. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity (PA) and college students’ SML, as well as the mediating effect of coping styles (CS) from the perspective of Meaning-Making Model. Using the cluster random sampling method, 2735 college students (M age = 19.64 years, SD = 0.97; 74.9% females; 23.55% only child) were recruited from Jilin provinces in China. With questionnaires, college students reported their PA, CS and SML. The results showed that PA was positively associated with SML and that this relationship was partially mediated by CS. Overall, higher levels of PA were linked to more adaptive CS and a stronger SML. The results highlight the potential value of higher levels of PA in promoting adaptive CS and enhancing the SML among college students.