Effect of physical activity on social interaction anxiety among Beijing drifters: The mediating roles of interpersonal competence and perceived stress

Social interaction anxiety has become increasingly problematic among individuals who relocate to major urban areas for work, which can adversely affect their personal health and career development, leading to severe social conflicts. We used a cross-sectional survey to explore the relationship between physical activity and social interaction anxiety, by obtaining data from 453 Beijing drifters through snowball and purposeful sampling, and used Amos 26.0 to test our hypotheses by constructing a structural equation model. Results showed that physical activity was negatively correlated with social interaction anxiety. Additionally, interpersonal competence and perceived stress mediated this relationship. Drifters who frequently engaged in sports exhibited high levels of interpersonal competence and low perceived stress, and they were less likely to experience social interaction anxiety than those who did not exercise. Countries and organizations should prioritize the health status of these individuals and provide more opportunities for them and other individuals to exercise.