A configurational pathway study on enhancing the governance level of national fitness public services.

OBJECTIVE: Relying solely on single-dimension explanations for differences in the governance performance of national fitness public services makes it difficult to reveal the complex mechanisms of multi-element synergistic interaction. This study aims to break through this limitation by adopting a system perspective to deeply explore the complex causal mechanisms driving the enhancement of national fitness public service governance efficacy. METHODS: (1) Introducing the "Wuli-Shili-Renli" (WSR) system methodology to build an analytical framework encompassing three dimensions: resource foundation, institutional mechanisms, and governance actors' capabilities; (2) Applying the fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) method; (3) Conducting a configuration path analysis using 31 provincial-level governments in China as cases. RESULTS: (1) High governance efficacy does not result from any single necessary condition, but rather from the concurrent interactions of multi-dimensional elements; (2) Three equivalent paths can achieve high governance efficacy: "Resource-Driven," "Institution-Driven," and "Collaborative Governance"; (3) Path selection displays significant regional heterogeneity, exhibiting a complementary relationship of "common patterns with situational differences." CONCLUSION: From a system perspective, this study deepens the understanding of the complex causal mechanisms behind national fitness public service governance. It offers theoretical references and path guidance for enhancing governance efficacy-namely, that governance efficacy improvement should be grounded in the synergistic configuration of multiple elements and tailored to regional realities through differentiated implementation paths, rather than relying on linear input along a single dimension.