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Academic Stress, Physical Activity, Sleep, and Mental Health among Chinese Adolescents

Author

Listed:
  • Xihe Zhu

    (Department of Human Movement Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA)

  • Justin A. Haegele

    (Department of Human Movement Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA)

  • Huarong Liu

    (School of Physical Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Fangliang Yu

    (School of Sport Training, Nanjing Sport Institute, Nanjing 210014, China)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of academic stress on physical activity and sleep, and subsequently their impacts on anxiety and depression. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected data from a convenience sample of 1533 adolescents in an eastern province in China. Surveys were used to collect data on academic stress, anxiety, depression, sleep, physical activity, and demographics. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and path analysis were used to analyze data. Results: The participants reported about 6.77 ± 0.89 h of sleep per day and 1.62 ± 1.79 days of 60 min of physical activity each week. Academic stress was positively correlated with anxiety and depression, which were negatively correlated with physical activity and sleep. The path analysis showed that academic stress directly predicted anxiety (β = 0.54) and depression (β = 0.55), and hours of sleep (β = 0.024) and the number of days of 60 min physical activity (β = 0.014) mediated the relation. Conclusion: The results largely supported our hypotheses and supported the need to lessen academic stress experienced by Chinese adolescents, in effort to enhance mental health indices directly, and by allowing for engagement in health-related behaviors such as physical activity and sleep.

Suggested Citation

  • Xihe Zhu & Justin A. Haegele & Huarong Liu & Fangliang Yu, 2021. "Academic Stress, Physical Activity, Sleep, and Mental Health among Chinese Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-9, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:14:p:7257-:d:589833
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hongyan Liu & Yaojiang Shi & Emma Auden & Scott Rozelle, 2018. "Anxiety in Rural Chinese Children and Adolescents: Comparisons across Provinces and among Subgroups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Li Ying & Xihe Zhu & Justin Haegele & Yang Wen, 2020. "Movement in High School: Proportion of Chinese Adolescents Meeting 24-Hour Movement Guidelines," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-9, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yiting E & Jianke Yang & Yifei Shen & Xiaojuan Quan, 2023. "Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Academic Burden: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Health among Chinese Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Hua Wang & Xiaoyan Fan, 2023. "Academic Stress and Sleep Quality among Chinese Adolescents: Chain Mediating Effects of Anxiety and School Burnout," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-13, January.
    3. Yanping Sun & Lin Wang & Chang Li & Wanshu Luo, 2022. "Sleep Disturbance in Chinese College Students with Mental Health Problems: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-12, November.
    4. Cheng, Yuhang & Jiang, Shan & Chen, Jiajun, 2024. "Academic expectation stress and online gaming disorder among Chinese adolescents: The mediating role of psychological distress and the moderating role of stress mindset," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    5. Yao Zhang & Jianxiu Liu & Yi Zhang & Limei Ke & Ruidong Liu, 2022. "Interactive Compensation Effects of Physical Activity and Sleep on Mental Health: A Longitudinal Panel Study among Chinese College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-13, September.
    6. Tom Bergen & Alice Hyun Min Kim & Anja Mizdrak & Louise Signal & Geoff Kira & Justin Richards, 2023. "Determinants of Future Physical Activity Participation in New Zealand Adolescents across Sociodemographic Groups: A Descriptive Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-16, May.
    7. Beatrice Thielmann & Robin Sebastian Schierholz & Irina Böckelmann, 2021. "Subjective and Objective Consequences of Stress in Subjects with Subjectively Different Sleep Quality—A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-18, September.

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