JMIR Form Res. 2026 Jun 23;10:e90020. doi: 10.2196/90020.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) participation among Chinese college students remains insufficient despite growing public health concerns regarding sedentary lifestyles and obesity. Social media platforms have increasingly become important channels for delivering social support related to physical activity (PA); however, different dimensions of social support on social media may exert distinct psychological influences on exercise intentions.
OBJECTIVE: Guided by the theory of planned behavior, this study aimed to examine the direct and indirect relationships between different dimensions of social support on social media and Chinese college students’ intentions to engage in LTPA.
METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among undergraduate and graduate students from a comprehensive university in East China between February and June 2022. A total of 310 valid responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling in R. Three dimensions of social support on social media, including companionship support, informational support, and self-esteem support, were examined as predictors of LTPA intention, with the theory of planned behavior constructs (attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) modeled as mediators. Demographic characteristics, BMI, social media use, and prior PA behaviors were included as covariates.
RESULTS: Companionship support demonstrated the strongest positive association with LTPA intention, including both a direct effect (β=.348; P=.005) and an indirect effect through attitudes toward PA (β=.286; P=.002). Self-esteem support also showed a significant positive indirect association with LTPA intention via attitude (β=.138; P=.02). In contrast, informational support demonstrated a significant negative indirect effect on LTPA intention through attitude (β=-.291; P<.001). Subjective norms and perceived behavioral control did not significantly mediate the relationships between social support dimensions and LTPA intention. The findings suggest that companionship-oriented interactions on social media may strengthen positive exercise attitudes, whereas excessive or low-credibility informational content may undermine exercise motivation.
CONCLUSIONS: Different dimensions of social support on social media play distinct roles in shaping Chinese college students’ intentions to engage in LTPA. Social media-based PA interventions should prioritize companionship and esteem support while improving the credibility, personalization, and quality of informational support to reduce potential negative effects associated with misinformation and information overload.
PMID:42335465 | DOI:10.2196/90020
