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Self-System Mediates the Effect of Physical Activity on Students’ Anxiety: A study from Canada

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Abstract

Physical activity has several mental and psychological health benefits for students. Various studies in western countries have shown evidence of a relationship between physical activity and academic anxiety. Further, researchers have suggested testing the mechanism of this relationship. In this study, we aim to test the association between physical activity and academic anxiety of Canadian university students and to examine whether the mediation of self-enhancement and self-criticism explains this relationship. Four hundred and forty-two university students participated in the study. Structural equation modeling was applied to develop multiple mediation models. Results revealed that physical activity does not directly affect academic anxiety, but indirectly through self-enhancement and self-criticism. Based on the study findings, it is recommended that physical activity be promoted among students to promote self-enhancement, minimize negative thinking and self-criticism, and reduce their academic anxiety.

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Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge Dr. Peter Thomson, Associate Professor, Sydney Institute of Agriculture, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, to provide the favor for editing the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education, College of Education, Zhejiang University, Room 405, West Building, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou, China

    Sumaira Kayani, Jin Wang, Tayyaba Kiyani, Zhi Qiao & Xuefang Zou

  2. Department of Education, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Punjab, Pakistan

    Sumaira Kayani & Muhammad Imran

  3. Department of Education, Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh, Pakistan

    Saima Kayani

  4. College of Education, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China

    Xuefang Zou

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  1. Sumaira Kayani
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Correspondence to Jin Wang.

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Kayani, S., Wang, J., Kayani, S. et al. Self-System Mediates the Effect of Physical Activity on Students’ Anxiety: A study from Canada. Asia-Pacific Edu Res 30, 443–457 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-020-00530-0

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