Physical exercise and subjective well-being: Peer relationships and perceived social support as mediators

We examined the effects of physical exercise on college students’ subjective well-being and tested the chain mediating effects of peer relationships and perceived social support. The participants consisted of 951 college students who completed the Physical Exercise Rating Scale, Subjective Well-Being Scale, Peer Relationships Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. Our study found that physical exercise was positively related to subjective well-being. Peer relationships and perceived social support had independent and interlocking mediating effects on the link between physical exercise and subjective well-being. These findings explain the mechanisms underlying the relationship between physical exercise and subjective well-being, and they provide practical insights for promoting subjective well-being among college students.