The effects of physical activity on social physique anxiety in college students—the mediating and moderating role of mental toughness and negative physical self
Abstract Purpose To examine the effects of physical activity on college students' social physique anxiety and the mediating and moderating roles of negative physical self and mental toughness in it, and to provide empirical evidence that physical activity improves college students' social...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02377-w |
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| author | Yong Jiang Xiaoyu Wang |
| author_facet | Yong Jiang Xiaoyu Wang |
| author_sort | Yong Jiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Purpose To examine the effects of physical activity on college students' social physique anxiety and the mediating and moderating roles of negative physical self and mental toughness in it, and to provide empirical evidence that physical activity improves college students' social physique anxiety. Methods Stratified whole cluster convenience sampling was used to survey 1177 university students, 53.8% male and 46.2% female, with a mean age of (19.12 ± 1.21) years. Mediated and moderated effects were analysed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 28.0. Results (1) Physical activity negatively predicted social physique anxiety (2) Negative physical self and mental toughness (individual power) played a significant partial mediating role between physical activity and social physique anxiety, with mediating effects accounting for 40.09% and 27.11% of the total effect, respectively; (3) The R2 change in the interaction term of physical activity and family support in mental toughness (supporting force) reached a significant level, and family support played a significant negative moderating role between physical activity and social physique anxiety, whereas the interaction term of interpersonal assistance and physical activity was not significant and could not moderate the interrelationship between physical activity and social physique anxiety. Conclusion Physical activity affects college students' levels of social physique anxiety through negative physical self and mental toughness (individual power); the effect of physical activity on social physique anxiety is negatively moderated by the family support dimension of mental toughness (supporting force). |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7c5d0b16ceb044e58aa7619eccdb5020 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-7c5d0b16ceb044e58aa7619eccdb50202025-01-19T12:43:42ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-01-0113111110.1186/s40359-025-02377-wThe effects of physical activity on social physique anxiety in college students—the mediating and moderating role of mental toughness and negative physical selfYong Jiang0Xiaoyu Wang1College of Physical Education, Liaoning Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education, Liaoning Normal UniversityAbstract Purpose To examine the effects of physical activity on college students' social physique anxiety and the mediating and moderating roles of negative physical self and mental toughness in it, and to provide empirical evidence that physical activity improves college students' social physique anxiety. Methods Stratified whole cluster convenience sampling was used to survey 1177 university students, 53.8% male and 46.2% female, with a mean age of (19.12 ± 1.21) years. Mediated and moderated effects were analysed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 28.0. Results (1) Physical activity negatively predicted social physique anxiety (2) Negative physical self and mental toughness (individual power) played a significant partial mediating role between physical activity and social physique anxiety, with mediating effects accounting for 40.09% and 27.11% of the total effect, respectively; (3) The R2 change in the interaction term of physical activity and family support in mental toughness (supporting force) reached a significant level, and family support played a significant negative moderating role between physical activity and social physique anxiety, whereas the interaction term of interpersonal assistance and physical activity was not significant and could not moderate the interrelationship between physical activity and social physique anxiety. Conclusion Physical activity affects college students' levels of social physique anxiety through negative physical self and mental toughness (individual power); the effect of physical activity on social physique anxiety is negatively moderated by the family support dimension of mental toughness (supporting force).https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02377-wExercise psychologyPhysical activitySocial physique anxietyMental ToughnessNegative physical selfMediating role |
| spellingShingle | Yong Jiang Xiaoyu Wang The effects of physical activity on social physique anxiety in college students—the mediating and moderating role of mental toughness and negative physical self BMC Psychology Exercise psychology Physical activity Social physique anxiety Mental Toughness Negative physical self Mediating role |
| title | The effects of physical activity on social physique anxiety in college students—the mediating and moderating role of mental toughness and negative physical self |
| title_full | The effects of physical activity on social physique anxiety in college students—the mediating and moderating role of mental toughness and negative physical self |
| title_fullStr | The effects of physical activity on social physique anxiety in college students—the mediating and moderating role of mental toughness and negative physical self |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of physical activity on social physique anxiety in college students—the mediating and moderating role of mental toughness and negative physical self |
| title_short | The effects of physical activity on social physique anxiety in college students—the mediating and moderating role of mental toughness and negative physical self |
| title_sort | effects of physical activity on social physique anxiety in college students the mediating and moderating role of mental toughness and negative physical self |
| topic | Exercise psychology Physical activity Social physique anxiety Mental Toughness Negative physical self Mediating role |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02377-w |
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