Does physical exercise inhibit smoking behavior? Evidence from the China General Social Survey.

Introduction: Examining how physical exercise influences smoking behavior and the mediating mechanisms involved helps clarify the broader social benefits of exercise and informs efforts to improve population health and build a more harmonious society. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study analyzed the nationally representative 2021 China General Social Survey (CGSS). After sample screening, we retained 2,373 valid observations. We estimated OLS models to examine the association between physical exercise and residents' smoking behavior. For robustness, we re-estimated ordered probit and ordered logit specifications and used propensity score matching (PSM) as an endogeneity check against the baseline estimates. We further assessed mediation by mental health and social support and tested the moderating role of individual income. Results: The results showed a significant positive association between physical exercise and reduced smoking ( Conclusion: Physical exercise is associated with reduced smoking, and the mechanisms of mental health and social support help explain this association. These findings deepened understanding of how exercise relates to smoking behavior and provided practical implications for public health policy and tobacco-control interventions in China. The study also extended research on the social and psychological effects of exercise and offered a theoretical basis for future work. However, because the analysis is cross-sectional and relies on self-reported measures from a single country and a single-year dataset, the findings are correlational and context-specific.