Effect of mass sports activity on prosocial behavior: A sequential mediation model of flow trait and subjective wellbeing

Xiyan Duan; Xiaohua Wang; Xiaogang Li; Shichen Li; Yiping Zhong; Te Bu

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.960870

Effect of mass sports activity on prosocial behavior: A sequential mediation model of flow trait and subjective wellbeing

Front Public Health. 2022 Aug 1:10:960870. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.960870. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Xiyan Duan¹, Xiaohua Wang², Xiaogang Li³, Shichen Li¹, Yiping Zhong³, Te Bu¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Physical Education, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.
² School of Physical Education and Health, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China.
³ Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.

Abstract

Objectives: Participation in mass sports is one of the most efficient strategies for people to attain physical and mental health in China. Prosocial behavior has a positive effect on social development. This study developed a conceptual model with mass sports activity as the independent variable, prosocial behavior as the dependent variable, and flow trait and subjective wellbeing as the mediating variables.

Methods: Participants (N = 351) completed an online survey. Mass sports activity, flow trait, subjective wellbeing, and prosocial behavior were measured using the physical activity rank scale-3 (PARS-3), short dispositional flow scale (SDFS), index of wellbeing (IWB), and prosocial tendencies measure (PTM), respectively. Descriptive statistics compared differences between sports population (PARS-3, ≥ 36) and non-sports population (PARS-3, <36). Mediation effect was analyzed using the PROCESS (Template, Model 6).

Results: Sports population scored significantly higher (all P ≤ 0.05) on SDFS, IWB, and PTM than non-sports population. Participation in mass sports stimulated flow trait and thus improved prosocial behavior, with a mediation effect value of 0.061 (95% CI, 0.028-0.104), which accounted for 30.18% of the total effect. Participation in mass sports enhanced subjective wellbeing and thus improved prosocial behavior, with a mediation effect value of 0.044 (95% CI, 0.007-0.090), which accounted for 21.96% of the total effect. Flow trait and subjective wellbeing mediated the relationship between mass sports activity and prosocial behavior in a sequential manner, with a mediation effect value of 0.059 (95% CI, 0.035-0.090), which accounted for 29.23% of the total effect.

Conclusion: The preliminary results of the mediation model validated the hypothesized sequential links between mass sports activity, flow trait, subjective wellbeing, and prosocial behavior. Greater participation in mass sports increases the likelihood of prosocial behavior.

Keywords: dispositional flow; empathy; health policy; leisure; mental health; physical activity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Altruism*
Exercise
Humans
Mental Health
Personality*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Associated data

figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.20218715.v1