Physical Exercise and Meaning in Life among Male Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Attachment

Qiangyan Hou; Haiqing  Wang

doi:10.62177/jaet.v3i3.1532

Authors

Qiangyan Hou Northwest Normal University
Haiqing Wang Northwest Normal University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62177/jaet.v3i3.1532

Keywords:

Physical Exercise, Attachment Anxiety, Attachment Avoidance, Sense of Meaning in Life

Abstract

Background: A sense of meaning in life can enhance an individual’s well-being, reduce anxiety and depression, strengthen the ability to cope with stress, promote positive and healthy behaviors, and improve physical and mental health. How to improve the sense of meaning in life is a very important issue. This study explored the relationship between physical exercise and the sense of meaning in life among male adolescents, as well as the mediating role of attachment. Methods: The “Physical Activity Rating Scale”, the “Experiences in Close Relationships Scale”, and the “Sense of Meaning in Life Scale” were used to conduct a survey among male students in a middle school in Gansu Province. A total of 304 questionnaires were collected online. After organizing the data, SPSS and its plug - in PROCESS were used for analysis. Results: Physical exercise can directly and positively predict the score of the sense of meaning in life (β = 0.133, t = 2.326, p =0.021 < 0.05). Attachment anxiety plays a partial mediating role between physical exercise and the sense of meaning in life (Effect = 0.021, SE = 0.014, 95% CI [0.001, 0.055]). Conclusions: Higher levels of exercise can improve the sense of meaning in life among male adolescents. It can also reduce attachment anxiety, thereby promoting the enhancement of the sense of meaning in life, and then having a positive impact on the physical and mental health of male adolescents.

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