Longitudinal relationships among early adolescent physical exercise, internalizing symptoms, and learning engagement: exploring within-person dynamics and the role of gender differences.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Current research lacks comprehensive investigation into the longitudinal relationships among physical exercise (PE), internalizing symptoms (IS), and learning engagement (LE) from an integrated perspective. Particularly scarce are examinations of underlying mediating mechanisms and gender differences within these longitudinal relationships.

Aims

(1) To adopt a comprehensive approach in examining the within-person relationships among PE, IS, and LE, as well as their potential mediating mechanisms; (2) To investigate whether gender differences exist in the relationships among these three variables.

Sample and methods

A one-year longitudinal study with 1,601 Chinese junior high school students assessed PE, IS, and LE at three time points (T1: December 2023, T2

SUBMITTER: Wei B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12482010 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature