The cross-sectional study on the association between physical exercise and restrained eating among Chinese college students: the chain mediating roles of emotional intelligence and perceived stress

Restrained eating, a prevalent dietary pattern among college students with potential health implications, is intricately linked to physical exercise, though the underlying psychological mechanisms remain an area of active investigation. A recent study involving over 1,600 Chinese university students has shed light on these complex relationships, revealing that emotional intelligence and perceived stress act as significant mediators in the link between physical activity and restrictive eating behaviors. The findings suggest that promoting holistic well-being, encompassing emotional competence and stress management alongside physical fitness, is crucial for fostering healthier eating habits in university populations.

Background and Context: The Rise of Restrained Eating in Academia

The college years represent a critical juncture for the development of long-term health behaviors. During this period, students often face significant lifestyle transitions, academic pressures, and social adjustments, all of which can influence their dietary choices. Restrained eating, characterized by intentional and chronic restriction of food intake for weight control, has become increasingly common. While often perceived as a weight management strategy, research indicates it can be a precursor to more severe eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, and unhealthy compensatory behaviors. A 2021 survey highlighted that a substantial 52.8% of Chinese university students had attempted weight loss through dietary restriction, underscoring the widespread nature of this practice. This trend is further exacerbated by societal pressures emphasizing thinness, creating an environment where restrictive dieting can be normalized.

However, the effectiveness and health implications of restrained eating are increasingly questioned. Paradoxically, prolonged dietary restriction can often lead to binge eating, ultimately resulting in weight gain, and can trigger negative emotional states like anxiety and low self-esteem. This creates a detrimental cycle that negatively impacts both mental and physical well-being. In this context, physical exercise has emerged as a recognized health-promoting behavior with the potential to influence eating patterns positively. Studies have indicated that regular physical activity is associated with improved psychological well-being and healthier dietary habits. For instance, a recent investigation found that physical exercise could buffer the negative impact of social appearance anxiety on restrained eating among Chinese female college students, suggesting a protective role for physical activity.

Despite these positive associations, the relationship between exercise and restrained eating is not always straightforward. While exercise can promote body satisfaction and self-regulation, leading to reduced dietary restriction, it can also reinforce restraint if motivated primarily by appearance-related concerns. This complexity suggests that psychological factors play a pivotal role in mediating the impact of physical activity on eating behaviors.

The Study: Unraveling the Mediating Pathways

To address these complexities, a comprehensive study was conducted among 1,640 college students from eight provinces across China. The research team, led by QG, TL, ZY, and ML, utilized validated self-report questionnaires to assess physical exercise levels (Physical Activity Rating Scale-3, PARS-3), restrained eating tendencies (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, DEBQ), emotional intelligence (Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, WLEIS), and perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale, PSS). The study, conducted between October 23 and December 5, 2025, employed a stratified sampling method to ensure representation across different university types and geographic regions.

The analysis, powered by SPSS 26.0 and the PROCESS macro, aimed to test a chain mediation model. This model hypothesized that physical exercise influences restrained eating not only directly but also indirectly through the sequential mediating roles of emotional intelligence and perceived stress. This theoretical framework integrates Self-Regulation Theory, Emotion Regulation Theory, Stress and Coping Theory, and Compensatory Control Theory to provide a nuanced understanding of the psychological underpinnings of these relationships.

Key Findings: A Multifaceted Connection

The study’s results provided robust support for the proposed mediating pathways.

• Direct Association: A significant negative correlation was observed between physical exercise and restrained eating (r = -0.369, p < 0.001), indicating that students who engage in more physical activity tend to exhibit lower levels of dietary restriction. This direct effect, while statistically significant, explained a moderate portion of the variance, suggesting other factors are at play. Even after accounting for mediators, the direct effect remained significant, though its magnitude was modest.

• Mediating Role of Emotional Intelligence: Emotional intelligence emerged as a significant mediator, demonstrating the largest indirect effect (-0.023) among the identified pathways. This suggests that physical exercise may contribute to lower restrained eating by enhancing students’ capacity to perceive, understand, and regulate their emotions. Higher emotional intelligence equips individuals with better coping mechanisms, reducing their reliance on restrictive eating to manage negative feelings or stress. This finding is particularly relevant in the Chinese cultural context, where managing interpersonal dynamics and psychological stress is paramount.

• Mediating Role of Perceived Stress: Perceived stress also played a significant mediating role, with an indirect effect of -0.019. This aligns with stress-related eating models, indicating that physical exercise, by alleviating stress, can reduce the likelihood of individuals resorting to restrained eating as a coping strategy to regain a sense of control.

• Chain Mediating Effect: Crucially, the study confirmed a significant chain mediating effect, where physical exercise influences emotional intelligence, which in turn influences perceived stress, ultimately impacting restrained eating. This sequential pathway, though with a smaller indirect effect (-0.002), provides a more integrated view of the complex interplay between these psychological constructs. The total indirect effect of these mediators accounted for 35.8% of the total effect, highlighting their substantial contribution.

Analysis and Implications: Beyond Physical Fitness

The study’s findings have significant implications for promoting healthy eating behaviors among college students. While physical exercise is undeniably beneficial, its impact on restrained eating is not solely a direct physiological consequence. The strong mediating role of emotional intelligence underscores the importance of developing emotional competence in academic settings. Universities can integrate programs that foster self-awareness, emotional regulation, and empathy, recognizing these as critical components of overall well-being.

Furthermore, the mediating role of perceived stress highlights the need for comprehensive stress management initiatives. College students frequently experience elevated stress levels due to academic demands, social pressures, and future uncertainties. Physical exercise, as demonstrated by this study, can serve as an effective stress-reduction tool. However, its benefits are amplified when coupled with strategies that enhance students’ ability to cope with and manage stress effectively.

The confirmation of a chain mediation pathway suggests that interventions should adopt a holistic approach. For instance, physical education programs could be designed not only to promote physical activity but also to foster teamwork, communication, and emotional expression, thereby enhancing emotional intelligence. This, in turn, can lead to better stress management and, consequently, a reduction in restrained eating. The study’s authors noted that team-based sports might offer greater advantages in fostering emotional intelligence compared to solitary activities due to their inherent social interaction and cooperative demands.

Future Directions and Limitations

While this study provides valuable insights, it is important to acknowledge its limitations. The cross-sectional design prevents definitive causal conclusions. Future longitudinal or experimental studies are needed to establish causality. The reliance on self-report measures introduces the potential for recall bias and social desirability effects. Incorporating objective measures of physical activity and utilizing multi-informant assessments could enhance the robustness of future research.

The sample, though diverse, was comprised primarily of college students, limiting generalizability to other populations. Additionally, no gender-specific analyses were conducted, despite the known prevalence of restrained eating among females. Future research should explore gender differences and control for variables such as age and Body Mass Index (BMI), which may influence the observed relationships. Differentiating between types of physical activity and exploring the impact of adaptive eating styles like intuitive and mindful eating could also offer further avenues for investigation.

Conclusion: A Holistic Approach to Student Well-being

In conclusion, this research unequivocally demonstrates that physical exercise is negatively associated with restrained eating among Chinese college students. This association is significantly mediated by emotional intelligence and perceived stress, operating both independently and sequentially. The findings emphasize that promoting physical activity alone may not be sufficient to address the complexities of restrained eating. Instead, a comprehensive approach that integrates physical fitness with the cultivation of emotional intelligence and effective stress management strategies is essential. By fostering these psychological capacities, educational institutions can empower students to adopt healthier, more sustainable eating behaviors and enhance their overall well-being during their formative university years. This study’s contribution lies in its detailed exploration of these interconnected psychological mechanisms, offering a roadmap for developing targeted interventions that address the multifaceted nature of student health in the modern academic landscape.