AI Insight
This study of 378 university teachers in China found that physical activity positively predicts work engagement both directly and indirectly through two psychological mechanisms: resilience and cognitive flexibility. The research demonstrates that physical activity enhances resilience, which in turn improves cognitive flexibility, ultimately leading to higher work engagement in sequential chain mediation.
Why it matters
The findings provide evidence-based guidance for universities seeking to improve faculty work engagement and mental health through targeted physical activity programs. Understanding this chain mechanism suggests that interventions promoting physical activity may yield benefits beyond physical health by strengthening psychological resources that enhance workplace performance.
ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between physical activity and work engagement among university teachers, analyze the chained mediating roles of resilience and cognitive flexibility in this relationship, and provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for enhancing the mental health and work efficacy of university teachers.MethodsA convenience sampling method was used to select 500 in-service teachers from multiple universities in Sichuan Province as participants. The study employed the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3 (PARS-3), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) for questionnaire surveys. A total of 378 valid questionnaires were collected from university teachers (173 males, 205 females; mean age = 24.6 ± 11.2 years). Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and chain mediating effect testing (Bootstrap method) were conducted using SPSS 24.0 and the PROCESS macro (Model 6).Results(1) Correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations among university teachers’ physical activity, resilience, cognitive flexibility, and work engagement (p < 0.01). (2) Structural equation modeling and mediating effect tests indicated that physical activity had a significant positive predictive effect on work engagement (β = 0.0066, 95% CI: [0.0037–0.0096]). (3) Mediating effect analysis revealed that resilience and cognitive flexibility not only played partial mediating roles separately but also jointly formed a chain mediating pathway between physical activity and work engagement.ConclusionPhysical activity among university teachers is not only directly and positively associated with their work engagement but also indirectly associated with higher work engagement through a sequential pathway involving resilience and then cognitive flexibility.