ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To identify the internal mechanism of the relationship between physical activity and mental health in home exercises. METHODS: Participants were 2233 college students with an average age of 19.34 (SD = 1.07) recruited from southern China using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and hierarchical multiple regression. They completed the college student physical activity questionnaire, regulatory emotional self-efficacy scale (RES) and Symptom Checklist (SCL-90) to explore the internal mechanism of the relationship between home exercises and mental health in the context of fitness campaign. RESULTS: Statistical analysis based on ANOVA and hierarchical multiple regression, and the results showed that gender differences is a critical factor influencing the effectiveness of home exercise on mental health in college students. Furthermore, individuals with regulatory emotional self-efficacy are more likely to keep exercising, which may stimulate the positive effect on enhancing mental health. CONCLUSION: Variable of emotion regulation efficacy play an important role in promoting college students positive emotions, stimulating potential, and improving physical and mental health. Further to advocate sports interventions for home-stay groups to improve their control of emotions, thereby reducing their anxiety and depression in the face of unexpected events.