This study aims to explore the impact of Fitness Qigong on depression in middle-aged and elderly, as well as the chain mediating role of mindfulness and sense of meaning in life.

The study utilized the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Taking middle-aged and elderly people in Guangxi Autonomous Region as the research subjects. A total of 1 000 questionnaires were distributed, with 956 valid responses returned, resulting in a 95.6%effective response rate. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were conducted using SPSS 27.0. The Bootstrap method in the PROCESS V4.1 plug-in was used to test the mediating effect and verify the chain mediating role of mindfulness and meaning in life.

The depression detection rate among middle-aged and elderly people in Guangxi was 17.3%. Depression scores showed significant differences in terms of age, education level, marital status, and exercise intensity of Qigong. Fitness Qigong exercise has a significant direct negative effect on depression levels among middle-aged and elderly individuals (β=-0.30, P < 0.001). Mindfulness and meaning in life exhibited significant individual mediating effects in the relationship between Fitness Qigong exercise and depression, with effect values of -0.059 (95% CI: -0.087~-0.036) and-0.022(95% CI: -0.041~-0.005), accounting for 15.42% and 5.63% of the total effect，respectively. Additionally, the chain mediating effect was also significant, with an effect value of -0.008(95% CI: -0.017~-0.002), accounting for 2.16% of the total effect.

Fitness Qigong not only directly reduces depression levels in the elderly but also affects depression levels through the chain mediating effects of mindfulness and meaning in life.