Investigating the relationships between physical activity, mindful self-compassion, and well-being among Chinese adolescents: the Exercise Self-Esteem Model Revised with Self-Compassion 2.0

Background: Physical activity is widely recognised as beneficial for well‑being, yet the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship, particularly those involving mindfulness and self‑compassion, remain insufficiently examined. The Exercise and Self‑Esteem Model with Self‑Compassion (EXSEM‑SC) highlights the roles of exercise self‑efficacy and body compassion in fostering self‑compassion, but it does not address the contributions of mindfulness and interoceptive body awareness in mitigating self‑criticism associated with discomfort, inadequacy, or doubt during activity. Purpose: To address this gap, the present cross‑sectional study conducted in Hong Kong integrated the Mindful and Compassionate Awareness Scale for Physical Activity (MCA‑PA) to investigate associations among physical activity, MCA‑PA, self‑compassion, and well‑being. Methods and Results: = 14.95 years, SD = 1.60), and structural equation modelling confirmed that MCA‑PA and self‑compassion mediated the relationship between physical activity and well‑being, with no gender differences (CFI = 0.97, SRMR = 0.039, RMSEA = 0.065, 90% CI [0.00, 0.13]). Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of mindfulness and self‑compassion in explaining how physical activity enhances well‑being, suggesting that health promotion programs in educational and broader contexts should incorporate practices that cultivate mindful and compassionate awareness to strengthen psychological outcomes and support healthy behaviours.