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Exploring the mediating role of physical activity levels in the relationship between physical literacy and physical fitness in Chinese university students

global-health
health-policy
public-health
mental-health
sports-medicine

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the relationships between physical literacy (PL), physical activity levels (PALs), and physical fitness among Chinese university students, with a particular focus on the mediating role of PALs and the consistency of findings across various analytical methods.

Methods: Participants included 115 first-year students (79 males, 36 females) from Nanjing, China. PL was assessed using the Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument (PPLI-SC), PALs were measured using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A), and physical fitness was assessed through four indicators: body mass index (BMI), 50-m sprint, sit-and-reach, and 800/1000-m run. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analyses were conducted in SPSS 26.0. Mediation was tested using the PROCESS macro (Model 4, 5000 bootstrap samples), and structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied using AMOS 26.0 for validation.

Results: Males outperformed females in the 50-m sprint, while females exhibited superior flexibility and cardiorespiratory endurance; BMI was significantly higher in males (p < 0.01). PL was positively correlated with PALs (r = 0.584, p < 0.01), and both were significantly associated with all fitness indicators except BMI. Mediation analyses indicated that PALs fully mediated the associations between PL and sprint performance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory endurance. For BMI, the PROCESS macro suggested a weak indirect effect, whereas SEM results were nonsignificant, highlighting the sensitivity of the results to the analytical method used.

Conclusion: PL is strongly linked to physical fitness in Chinese university students, with PALs acting as a critical mediator. The inconsistent BMI findings underscore its complex determinants, which extend beyond physical activity. Promoting PL and PALs through university physical education programs may improve fitness outcomes. Future research should validate these findings using larger samples, longitudinal designs, and broader body composition indicators (e.g., body fat percentage, muscle mass).

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