Autonomous Fitness Behavior and Social Anxiety in College Students: The Chain Mediating Roles of Rumination and Emotional–Social Isolation

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between autonomous fitness behavior and social anxiety among college students, as well as the chain mediation roles of rumination and emotional-social isolation in this relationship. The study used the Autonomous Fitness Behavior Scale, Social Anxiety Scale, Rumination Scale, and Emotional-Social Isolation Scale to investigate 976 college students. Correlation analysis, regression analysis, and structural equation modeling were conducted. (1) Correlation Analysis: Autonomous fitness behavior was significantly positively correlated with rumination (r = .238, p < .01) and significantly negatively correlated with social anxiety (r = -0.224, p < .01) and emotional-social isolation (r = -0.191, p < .01). Significant positive correlations were also found among social anxiety, rumination, and emotional-social isolation. (2) Regression Analysis: Autonomous fitness behavior was negatively associated with social anxiety (β = -0.224, p < .01). (3) Structural Equation Modeling: Rumination and emotional-social isolation played partial mediating and chain mediating roles in the relationship between autonomous fitness behavior and social anxiety. Specific indirect effects included: (a) through rumination alone (effect = .011), (b) through emotional-social isolation alone (effect = -0.049), and (c) through a chain of rumination then emotional-social isolation (effect = .012). In conclusion, autonomous fitness behavior is directly associated with social anxiety. Furthermore, the relationships between autonomous fitness behavior and social anxiety are also explained by the separate and chained mediating effects of rumination and emotional-social isolation.