The impact of physical exercise on the flourishing level of vocational college students: an analysis based on random forest regression algorithm and moderated mediation model

This study examined the associations among physical exercise, sensory processing sensitivity, depression–happiness, relational energy, and flourishing in vocational college students, with a focus on the serial mediating roles of sensory processing sensitivity and depression–happiness and the moderating role of relational energy. Using a multistage sampling design, 11,388 vocational college students from mainland China were surveyed. Physical exercise did not show a significant direct positive association with flourishing, but did so indirectly through sensory processing sensitivity and depression–happiness. Relational energy significantly moderated the association between depression, happiness, and flourishing. After controlling for gender, grade, and BMI, physical exercise showed a significant negative direct association with flourishing. These findings suggest that the benefits of physical exercise for flourishing operate primarily through personality, emotional, and interpersonal pathways.