Balancing the Field: Internal Motivation, Well-Being, and Soccer Participation Among College Students in Northeast China

This research investigates the interplay between internal motivation, subjective well-being, and soccer participation among college students in Northeast China. Anchored in self-determination theory and benefit theory, this study employs a survey-based method, incorporating path and regression analysis to scrutinize the proposed model. We discovered that internal motivation significantly enhances subjective well-being, with social benefits as a full mediator and physical and mental health as partial mediators in this relationship. On the other hand, external motivation negatively impacts the association between internal motivation and well-being, both in physical and mental aspects, as well as social benefits. However, it does not moderate the relationship between internal motivation and subjective well-being, contradicting our initial expectations. These findings offer valuable insights into subjective well-being dynamics among non-soccer-participating college students, highlighting the pivotal role of psychological and motivational factors. Our research contributes to the discourse on promoting well-being in educational settings, which is pertinent to the knowledge economy. The results underscore the importance of internal over external motivation in enhancing students’ well-being and offer guidance for educational institutions to foster environments conducive to students’ internal motivation. This study not only bridges significant gaps in the existing literature but also provides a comprehensive understanding of the intricate dynamics of student motivation and well-being, aligning with the broader objectives of the knowledge economy.