The effect of basketball intervention on emotional stability in high school students: The mediating role of self-control

This study used an experimental design to examine the effects of a basketball intervention on self-control and emotional stability among high school students. Using convenience sampling, we randomly selected 89 high school students from Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, and assigned them to two groups. The experimental group (20 girls, 23 boys) participated in a moderate intensity basketball program for 8 weeks, while the control group (22 girls, 24 boys) attended regular physical education classes. Pretest and posttest measurements were conducted in groups using the Self-Control Scale for Middle School Students and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (Neuroticism Scale). The results indicated that (a) the 8-week basketball intervention significantly enhanced emotional stability and self-control in high school students, and (b) self-control partially mediated the effect of the basketball intervention on emotional stability, accounting for 40.58% of the total effect. Overall, basketball interventions can improve emotional stability both directly and indirectly through enhancing self-control.