Positive perfectionism and exercise persistence in Chinese adolescents: a moderated serial mediation model of self-efficacy, autonomous motivation, and perceived social support

To clarify whether positive perfectionism is associated with exercise persistence in adolescents and to test a moderated serial mediation model. A cross-sectional school-based survey was conducted among 1,032 students (12–18 years) in Dalian, China. Participants reported positive perfectionism, self-efficacy, exercise-related autonomous motivation, perceived social support, and exercise persistence. Regression with bootstrapping tested mediation and moderated mediation. Positive perfectionism was positively associated with exercise persistence. This association was statistically mediated by self-efficacy and autonomous motivation in sequence. Perceived social support moderated the autonomous motivation–exercise persistence link, such that the serial indirect association was stronger at higher levels of perceived social support. Positive perfectionism was associated with greater exercise persistence via higher self-efficacy and autonomous motivation, and this indirect association was stronger when perceived social support was higher. Longitudinal or experimental studies are needed to clarify causal directions.