How Elite Athletes Motivate Adolescents' Physical Exercise: The Mediating Role of Idol Worship and Role Model Identification

The role model effect of elite athletes is significant in motivating adolescents to engage in physical activity. Grounded in social learning theory, this study employs scales measuring the perception of elite athletes' role model traits, sports idol worship, sports role model identification, and physical activity intention. Using the framework of "cognitive processing-resonance and internalization-intention transformation-behavior reinforcement", it explores the mechanism through which elite athletes influence adolescents' participation in physical activity. The findings indicate that: adolescents' perception of elite athletes' role model traits positively predicts their physical activity intention through both the independent and serial mediating effects of idol worship and role model identification. The similarity in exercise preferences between adolescents and role models positively moderates the motivational effect through the sense of competence, goal orientation, and satisfaction derived from high self-efficacy.