Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42517090›Full record

Trial reportFrontiers in public health2026

The impact of the flipped classroom model on college students' physical exercise behavior: a chain mediation effect of self-directed learning ability and exercise motivation.

Hechong Yang, Shuaichao Cheng, Guangxin Cheng

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Hechong YangSchool of Physical Education, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, China.
Shuaichao ChengSchool of Physical Education, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, China.
Guangxin ChengSchool of Sports, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Encouraging consistent physical exercise habits among college students is a significant concern in public health. University physical education courses offer advantages in shaping healthy practices, yet conventional teaching often fails to convert classroom learning into lasting exercise routines. This study investigates the impact of Flipped Classroom (FC) model on students' exercise behavior and tests the chained mediation of self-directed learning (SDL) ability and autonomous motivation (AM). We hypothesize that FC positively influences exercise behavior through the sequential mediation of SDL ability and AM. Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a pre-post design in a Chinese university public physical education course. Six naturally occurring classes were randomly allocated to FC ( Results: After adjusting for baseline baseline physical activity (PA), gender, body mass index, and class clustering, FC group showed significantly greater overall physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) than the control group. The likelihood of meeting physical activity recommendations was markedly higher in FC group. The structural equation model fit the data well. Both SDL ability and AM served as significant mediators, with a notable chained mediation pathway. Conclusion: FC model effectively fosters short-term physical exercise behavior in college students by enhancing SDL ability and reinforcing AM, as measured immediately post-intervention. These findings suggest promising educational and public health benefits, though they represent immediate post-course compliance rather than confirmed long-term habit formation, warranting future longitudinal research.

Indexed as

ExerciseMotivationPhysical Education and TrainingSelf-Directed Learning as TopicStudentsChinaFemaleHumansLearningMaleSurveys and QuestionnairesUniversitiesYoung Adultchained mediationflipped classroomintrinsic motivationphysical exercise behaviorself-directed learning abilityuniversity public physical education

Identifiers

PMID42517090
PMCPMC13402558

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.