Exercise self-efficacy and aggressive behavior in college students: Interpersonal trust and prosocial behavior as chain mediators

• Lina Ma

  School of Physical Education and Health, Zhaoqing University

• Li Wu

  College of Teacher Education, Zhaoqing University

• Jing Li

  School of Education, City University of Macao

• Jiangfeng Lin

  School of Education, City University of Macao

This study examined the relationship between exercise self-efficacy and aggressive behavior in college students, with interpersonal trust and prosocial behavior as mediators. We conducted a survey of 1,571 college students. The results were as follows: (a) exercise self-efficacy was significantly and negatively related to aggression, and the direct path of exercise self-efficacy to aggressive behavior was significant; (b) exercise self-efficacy positively predicted interpersonal trust and prosocial behavior, while interpersonal trust significantly and positively predicted prosocial behavior, and prosocial behavior significantly predicted aggressive behavior; and (c) interpersonal trust and prosocial behavior played a significant mediating role in the relationship between exercise self-efficacy and aggressive behavior. These findings have important practical significance as guidance for reducing aggressive behavior in college students.

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