Aims:　Physical　activity　is　an　effective　way　for　people　to　cope　with　stress.　However,　people　often　decrease　their　physical　activity　in　response　to　stressors.　Therefore,　we　aimed　to　understand　the　relationship　between　perceived　stress　and　physical　activity　from　an　outcome　expectancies　perspective　and　investigated　the　moderating　role　of　future　orientation　in　this　relationship.　Methods:　This　study　recruited　425　students　who　completed　a　three-wave　survey　at　six-week　intervals.　A　moderated　mediation　model　was　used　to　examine　the　mediating　effects　of　outcome　expectancies　and　the　moderating　effects　of　future　orientation.　Results:　The　results　indicated　that　outcome　expectancies　mediated　the　relationship　between　perceived　stress　and　physical　activity.　This　relationship　was　moderated　by　future　orientation.　In　particular,　the　mediating　effects　were　significant　for　people　with　a　high　future　orientation,　but　not　for　those　with　a　low　future　orientation.　Conclusion:　Our　results　demonstrate　the　adaptive　function　of　future　orientation　in　response　to　general　stress.　Importantly,　the　link　between　perceived　stress　and　reduced　physical　activity　could　be　mitigated　by　encouraging　people　to　focus　on　future　consequences.　Future　studies　should　consider　developing　intervention　strategies　that　help　those　struggling　with　stressful　contexts.