In recent years, the quality of life quality of life of college students has received widespread attention. Based on previous research, this study identified the relationship between college students' basketball involvement, exercise passion, self-actualization, and quality of life, and identified these four sub-factors influencing the behavior of basketball participants. This study aims to reveal the effectiveness of the involvement behaviors of basketball participants. To this end, college basketball participants completed a questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS statistical data 26.0 and Amos 26.0 for reliability verification, exploratory factor analysis, correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. Results indicated that basketball involvement has a positive and significant impact on exercise passion, self-actualization, and quality of life. Further, passion for basketball exercise and self-actualization have a positive and significant mediating effect on involvement and quality of life. Finally, self-actualization and involvement have a significant positive impact on the quality of life. Therefore, it is important to study the relationships between these four sub-factors to provide valuable insights into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by college students in this field. Overall, this study provides information for intervention measures and projects aimed at promoting healthy habits and positive outcomes among college students in the Sichuan Province and other regions.