Abstract
To investigate the role of physical self-esteem and subjective well-being in the influence of physical activity on prosocial behavior among Chinese university students. A survey was conducted among 580 college students using Physical Activity Rating Scale, College Student Physical Self-esteem Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Prosocial Tendencies Measure. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 27.0 and AMOS 26.0 to test for chain mediating effects and conduct Bootstrap analysis, leading to the research conclusions. (1) Physical activity was significantly positively correlated with physical self-esteem, subjective well-being, prosocial behavior, and the six dimensions of prosocial behavior. (2) The mediating effects included three pathways: "Physical Activity → Physical Self-Esteem → Prosocial Behavior" (effect size = 0.161, 95% CI [0.097, 0.227]); "Physical Activity → Subjective Well-Being → Prosocial Behavior" (effect size = 0.069, 95% CI [0.034, 0.114]); and "Physical Activity → Physical Self-Esteem → Subjective Well-Being → Prosocial Behavior" (effect size = 0.024, 95% CI [0.007, 0.049]). These three pathways accounted for 20.28%, 40.65%, and 3.02% of the total effect, respectively. (3) Physical activity had a direct positive impact on prosocial behavior among college students (effect size = 0.54, 95% CI [0.433, 0.657], accounting for 68.01% of the total effect), and also influenced prosocial behavior through the mediating roles of physical self-esteem and subjective well-being in a chain. Physical activity has a positive predictive effect on prosocial behavior among college students, with mechanisms including the direct effect of physical exercise, the positive mediating role of physical self-esteem, the positive mediating role of subjective well-being, and the combined chain mediating effect of both.