<![CDATA[Student mental health is a key issue in higher education due to rising levels of stress, anxiety and depression, which can affect academic success and quality of life. This study aims to analyse the influence of campus fitness on the mental health of students at Chinese universities. The study employs a mixed-methods approach with a convergent parallel design. A total of 450 students from three universities participated in the quantitative study, whilst 36 students took part in in-depth interviews. Physical fitness was measured using the National Student Physical Fitness Standard, and mental health using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). The results indicate that physical fitness has a significant negative correlation with depression (r = -0.52), anxiety (r = -0.48), and stress (r = -0.56). Regression analysis indicated that physical fitness is a significant predictor of students’ mental health. The novelty of this study lies in the integration of objective measures of physical fitness, mental health, and students’ experiences within the campus fitness environment. It was concluded that improved physical fitness and adequate support from the campus environment contribute to enhanced mental health and overall student well-being.]]>
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