A healthier day, a healthier mind: linking 24-h movement behavior guideline adherence to mental health in university students

Background University students face substantial challenges to psychological well-being, and healthy daily movement behaviors may be relevant to positive mental health. This study examined the association between adherence to 24-h movement behavior guidelines and positive mental health among university students, as well as the hypothesized statistical indirect associations through university adaptation and psychological resilience. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,856 undergraduate students from two universities in Hunan Province, China. Adherence to 24-h movement behavior guidelines was assessed based on physical activity, recreational screen behavior, and sleep duration. University adaptation, psychological resilience, and positive mental health were measured using self-report scales, with positive mental health operationalized using the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF). Pearson correlation analysis and PROCESS Model 6 were used to estimate the hypothesized serial direct and indirect associations. Results Complete adherence to all three guidelines was relatively low. Sleep duration had the highest adherence rate, whereas recreational screen behavior had the lowest. Adherence to more guidelines was positively associated with university adaptation, psychological resilience, and positive mental health; however, the correlations between guideline adherence and these variables were modest ( r = 0.286–0.318). PROCESS Model 6 identified significant statistical indirect associations between guideline adherence and positive mental health through university adaptation and psychological resilience, both independently and sequentially. Conclusion Greater breadth of 24-h movement behavior guideline adherence was modestly associated with better MHC-SF positive mental health among university students. University adaptation and psychological resilience showed statistical indirect associations consistent with the hypothesized pathways, but the cross-sectional design does not establish temporal mediation or causality.