**5. Conclusions**

This study explored the relationship between self-efficacy, recreation specialization, flow experience, and life satisfaction among Chinese long-distance runners. The seven hypotheses, proposed in a conceptual model, were supported by the results of this study. The findings extended existing literature by confirming the positive role of self-efficacy and recreation specialization on flow experience and life satisfaction. Additionally, the results revealed the significant mediating effects of flow experience between self-efficacy, recreation specialization, and life satisfaction. Considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, local agencies should make efforts to meet people's need for better leisure and recreational facilities. Simultaneously, individuals should make a more concerted effort to pursue

leisure and recreational activities by examining time and other constraints that block their efforts.

**Author Contributions:** Methodology, Y.Q.; formal analysis, H.T.; investigation, W.Z. and Z.Z.; data curation, H.T. and W.Z.; writing—original draft preparation, H.T.; writing—review and editing, H.T. and Z.Z.; project administration, Y.Q.; funding acquisition, Y.Q. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research was supported by the Starting Research fund from Shaoxing University (No. 20216011), the Hengyi foundation of Zhejiang University, and national social science funding in China (No. 16BTY077) in China.

**Institutional Review Board Statement:** Not applicable.

**Informed Consent Statement:** Written informed consent has been obtained from the respondents to publish this paper.

**Data Availability Statement:** The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
