The Relationship Between Social Support and Sub-health Status among College Students

Ruirui Li

doi:10.62177/amit.v2i4.1527

Authors

Ruirui Li Northwest Normal University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62177/amit.v2i4.1527

Keywords:

Social Support, Physical Activity Social Support, Sub-health

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship between social support and sub-health status among college students. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 894 college students in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. The Physical Activity and Social Support Scale and the Sub-health Rating Scale were used for measurement, and descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis were conducted. Results: The median score of the Physical Activity and Social Support Scale was 102 (80, 120), and the median score of the Sub-health Rating Scale was 108 (101, 118). Correlation analysis showed that total social support was significantly and positively associated with total sub-health score (r = 0.337, p < 0.001), and was also significantly and positively associated with the physical, psychological, and social sub-health dimensions. Regression analysis showed that social support significantly and positively predicted sub-health status (β = 0.337, t = 10.692, p < 0.001, R² = 0.114). Conclusion: Higher levels of social support are associated with better health status and a lower degree of sub-health among college students. Universities should strengthen supportive campus environments by improving peer support, teacher support, information support, and resource support to promote students’ physical and mental health.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Tao, X., Wu, X., Fu, J., Xiao, Y., & Zhong, T. (2025). Associations between physical activity and health-related quality of life among university students in Zhuhai, China. Scientific Reports, 15, Article 31319. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15822-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15822-y

Wang, S., Niu, Z., Xiong, J., Chai, G., & Ye, X. (2024). The relationship between physical activity and psychological sub-health among high altitude region Tibetan college students. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1465845. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1465845 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1465845

Li, R., Hassan, N. C., Zhu, Q., Ouyang, S., & Dong, J. (2025). A systematic review on the impact of social support on college students’ wellbeing and mental health. PLOS ONE, 20(7), Article e0325212. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325212 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325212

Vicary, E., Kapadia, D., Bee, P., Bennion, M., & Brooks, H. (2025). The impact of social support on university students living with mental illness: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Journal of Mental Health, 34(4), 463–475. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2024.2408237 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2024.2408237

Han Mo, P. K., Li, J., Xie, L., Liu, X., Jiang, H., Chen, Y., Ma, L., & Lau, J. T. F. (2024). Communication in social networking sites on offline and online social support and life satisfaction among university students: Tie strength matters. Journal of Adolescent Health, 74(5), 971–979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.10.030 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.10.030

Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310–357. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.98.2.310 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.98.2.310

Golaszewski, N. M., & Bartholomew, J. B. (2019). The development of the Physical Activity and Social Support Scale. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 41(4), 215–229. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2018-0234 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2018-0234

Cao, Y., Yuan, J., & Luo, L. (2024). The physical activity and social support scale: A translation and psychometric validation study in a Chinese college student sample. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1252561. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1252561 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1252561

Brown, C. E. B., Richardson, K., Halil-Pizzirani, B., Atkins, L., Yücel, M., & Segrave, R. A. (2024). Key influences on university students’ physical activity: A systematic review using the Theoretical Domains Framework and the COM-B model of human behaviour. BMC Public Health, 24, Article 418. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17621-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17621-4

Xu, J., Feng, L. Y., Luo, R., Qiu, J. C., Zhang, J. H., Zhao, X. S., Lu, Y., & Wei, Q. (2011). Reliability and validity of the Sub-health Rating Scale. Journal of Southern Medical University, 31(1), 33–38.