Purpose: Physical activity has favorable impacts on exercisers' stress levels, psychological
distress and anxiety, emotional regulation, and mental wellness. In recent years, the global outbreak of COVID-19
has subtly altered college students' lifestyles. Studies have shown that the physical and mental health of students
has deteriorated dramatically, which is alarming. Mental toughness refers to the ability to adapt well in the face
of major pressures, setbacks, and adversity in life. The purpose of the present study was to examine variations in
mental toughness depending on the intensity, length, and frequency of physical activity. Methods: A
total of 3,120 Chinese college students participated in this study. In the spring semester of 2022, participants
were given the demographic questionnaire, the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), and the Chinese version of
the Mental Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). 3049 students completed the survey. Independent sample t test, one-way analysis
of variance (ANOVA), correlation analysis, and regression analysis were performed using SPSS 25.0 statistical
software. Results: The physical activity level differed significantly across sex (t =
14.37, p < 0.001), grade (F=3.72, p < 0.05), and monthly living
expenses (F = 5.70, p < 0.001). The mental toughness had significant differences across
sex (t = 4.55, p < 0.001), grade (F = 3.35, p < 0.05), and monthly living
expenses (F = 5.41, p < 0.001). There were significant differences in mental toughness
across different levels of physical activity intensity (F = 39.28, p < 0.001), different length of
physical activity (F = 33.35, p < 0.001), different frequency of physical
activity (F = 30.14, p < 0.001), and different levels of physical
activity (F = 91.55, p < 0.001). Physical activity was significantly and positively
correlated with mental toughness (r = 0.26, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Male students
exhibited significantly higher levels of physical activity than their female counterparts, and freshmen demonstrated
greater physical activity than students in other grades. Additionally, the amount of physical activity among college
students was influenced by their monthly living expenses. The mental toughness score of male students was notably
higher than that of female students, with freshmen scoring significantly higher than students in other grades. In
comparison to other levels of physical activity, engaging in a high quantity of exercise, high-intensity short-duration
exercise, more than 60 minutes of activity time, and a daily activity frequency had the most pronounced impact on enhancing
mental toughness. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between physical activity and mental toughness.