Longitudinal study on regulatory emotional self-efficacy and exercise presistence among college students/
Objective To explore the longitudinal relationship between regulatory emotional self-efficacy and the persistence of exercise,so as to provide a reference for promoting the development of exercise habits among college students.Methods Using a cluster random sampling method,one undergraduate institution was selected from each of Jiangxi,Hunan,Guizhou,Yunnan,Guangdong,Anhui,and Fujian provinces.A total of 2 576 college students were recruited.The Regulatory Emotional Self-efficacy Scale and Exercise Persistence Scale were distributed to college students through the questionnaire star platform.Three rounds of questionnaire surveys were completed in September 2023(T1),December 2023(T2),and March 2024(T3).Cross-lagged analy-sis was employed to explore the relationship between regulatory emotional self-efficacy and the persistence of college students'exer-cise.Results Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that the main effects of regulatory emotional self-efficacy on time and gender were statistically significant(F=102.15,η2=0.07;F=34.80,η2=0.01),and the interaction effects between time and gender,as well as between time and academic stage,were also statistically significant(F=3.81,η2=0.00;F=25.54,η2=0.02)(P<0.05).The main effect of exercise persistence on time was statistically significant(F=111.28,η2=0.05)and the interaction effect between time and academic stage was statistically significant(F=27.13,η2=0.02)(P<0.01).Cross-lagged analysis revealed that regulatory emotional self-efficacy at T1 positively predicted exercise persistence at T2(β=0.068),and regulatory emotional self-efficacy at T2 positively predicted exercise persistence at T3(β=0.368)(P<0.01).Prior exercise persistence positively predic-ted subsequent exercise persistence,with path coefficients of 0.298 and 0.240(P<0.01).Exercise persistence at T1 negatively pre-dicted regulatory emotional self-efficacy at T2(β=-0.068),and exercise persistence at T2 positively predicted regulatory emotional self-efficacy at T3(β=0.061)(P<0.01).Prior regulatory emotional self-efficacy positively predicted subsequent regulatory emotion-al self-efficacy,with path coefficients of 0.271 and 0.639(P<0.01).Conclusions There is a longitudinal causal relationship be-tween regulatory emotional self-efficacy and college students'exercise persistence.In daily physical activities,the significant role of emotional factors in sports practices should be emphasized to promote exercise behaviors among college students.
EmotionsEgoExercise movement techniquesMental healthStudents