The impact of perceived school climate on exercise behavior engagement among obese adolescents: a dual mediation effect test of exercise benefits and perseverance qualities

Yao Yin; Chong Zhang; Zhibo Chen; Yufei Qi; Cheng Qiu

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1220362

The impact of perceived school climate on exercise behavior engagement among obese adolescents: a dual mediation effect test of exercise benefits and perseverance qualities

Front Psychol. 2023 Oct 3:14:1220362. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1220362. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Yao Yin¹, Chong Zhang¹, Zhibo Chen², Yufei Qi³, Cheng Qiu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Progression School of Upper Secondary, Beijing College of Finance and Commerce, Beijing, China.
² Department of Physical Education, Shanghai Dianji University, Shanghai, China.
³ Department of Physical Education and Research, Central South University, Changsha, China.
⁴ Police Sports and Warfare Training Academy, People's Public Security University of China, Beijing, China.

Abstract

Introduction: This study explores the relationship between perceived school climate and exercise behavior among obese adolescents, as well as the multiple mediating effects of perseverance qualities and exercise benefits.

Methods: A survey was conducted on 586 obese adolescents in Beijing, with an age range of 13-18 years old and an average age of 15.40 ± 1.824, among who 337 were male, 249 were female, 303 were high school students and 238 were middle school students. A standard scale was used to evaluate perceived school climate, exercise benefits, perseverance qualities, and exercise behaviors. The data was analyzed by independent samples t-test, bivariate correlation analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, and structural equation model (SEM).

Results: (1) Perceived school climate among obese adolescents positively predicted exercise behavior (Z = 2.870, p < 0.01), perseverance qualities (Z = 3.107, p < 0.01) and exercise benefits (Z = 4.290, p < 0.001); perseverance qualities positively predicted exercise behavior in obese adolescents (Z = 4.431, p < 0.001); exercise benefits positively predicted the obese adolescents' exercise behavior (Z = 4.267, p < 0.001). (2) Perseverance qualities (Z = 2.282, 95% CI [0.032, 0.191], [0.028, 0.179]) and exercise benefits (Z = 2.518, 95% CI [0.060, 0.287], [0.053, 0.271]) play a mediating role in the obese adolescents' perceived school climate and exercise behavior, respectively. These two factors have parallel multiple mediating effects between obese adolescents' perceived school climate and exercise behavior, with mediating effects accounting for 16 and 25%, respectively. The mediating effect of exercise benefits is greater than that of perseverance qualities. (3) There is no difference in the specific indirect effects of perseverance qualities and exercise benefits (Z = -0.800, 95% CI [- 0.198, 0.064], [-0.190, 0.068]).

Conclusion: Obese adolescents' perception of school climate can effectively enhance their motivation to participate in exercise behavior and indirectly influence exercise behavior through exercise benefits and perseverance qualities, cultivate good physical exercise behavior among obese adolescents, and effectively prevent and intervene in the occurrence of obesity.

Keywords: dual mediation effect; individual perception; obese adolescents; physical activity; sports participation.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Research on the Health Literacy Enhancement Project of Civilian Police in the Context of the All-Police Practice Project of the Central Universities Basic Scientific Research Business Fund in 2022 (2022JKF02063).