Physical Activity, Emotional Intelligence, and Resilience in College Students: A Multi-Group Structural Equation Modeling Analysis Across Physical Fitness Levels

Abstract

Purpose This study examined the relationships among physical activity, emotional intelligence, and resilience in college students with different physical fitness levels, examined the potential indirect association through emotional intelligence, and compared group-specific structural pathways using multi-group structural equation modelling. Participants and Methods A stratified cluster sampling method was used to recruit 1,988 freshmen and sophomores from four universities in Beijing. Based on physical fitness evaluation, participants were divided into the general physical education group (n = 1,478), the physical fitness enhancement group (n = 320), and the sports rehabilitation group (n = 190). Physical activity, emotional intelligence, and resilience were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), respectively. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was conducted using Mplus 8.3, followed by multi-group comparative analyses to examine differences in structural pathways across groups. Results In the total sample, physical activity was positively associated with emotional intelligence (β = 0.216, P < 0.001) and resilience (β = 0.070, P = 0.001). A significant indirect association through emotional intelligence was observed between physical activity and resilience (indirect association = 0.091, 95% CI [0.070, 0.114]), accounting for 56.5% of the total association. Multi-group analyses revealed significant structural heterogeneity across groups. The rehabilitation group showed a significant indirect but non-significant direct association, the enhancement group showed a significant direct association and a weak, non-significant indirect association through EI, and the general group showed both significant direct and indirect associations. Conclusion The findings reveal heterogeneous pathways linking physical activity, emotional intelligence, and resilience across physical fitness levels. The indirect association through emotional intelligence differed across groups, highlighting the need for targeted physical activity and psychological support strategies for college students.