Associations between Physical Activity and Emotional Health: The Mediating Role of Body Image and the Moderating Roles of Sex and BMI

Jie Lian

doi:10.54691/whv8zj02

Authors

Jie Lian

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/whv8zj02

Keywords:

Physical activity; emotional health; body image; sex differences; BMI.

Abstract

Background: The present research sought to investigate the intervening function of body perception in the context of physical exercise and emotional well-being. Additionally, it aimed to examine the disparities between groups based on different genders and body mass index (BMI). Methods: A total of 282 college students were recruited. The level of physical activity, perception of one's body, and emotional health were evaluated via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Body Imagery State Scale, The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Assessment Scale (DASS - 21), along with the Positive and Negative Emotional State Inventory. An analysis of mediation effects was employed to examine the part that body imagery plays in the connection between physical activity and emotional well-being. This analysis was used to scrutinize the differences among groups. Results: The findings revealed that engaging in physical activity notably boosted positive feelings and mitigated negative feelings. Body perception serves as a crucial intermediary factor between physical activity and both positive and negative emotions. Moreover, the intermediary function of body perception was evident in the male group and the cohort possessing standard or overweight body mass index (BMI). Conclusion: These findings revealed the mechanism by which physical activity optimized emotional well-being by enhancing body image, and also provided an empirical basis for the development of gender and weight-specific emotional intervention strategies for different gender and BMI groups.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] Allen, M. S., & Celestino, S. (2020). Body image mediates an association between personality and mental health. Australian Journal of Psychology, 70(2), 179-185. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajpy.12178

[2] Allen, M. S., Vella, S. A., Swann, C., & Laborde, S. (2018). Personality and the subjective experience of body mass in Australian adults. Journal of Research in Personality, 72, 73-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2016.05.003

[3] Alleva, J. M., Holmqvist Gattario, K., Martijn, C., & Lunde, C. (2019). What can my body do vs. how does it look?: A qualitative analysis of young women and men's descriptions of their body functionality or physical appearance. Body image, 31, 71-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.08.008

[4] Alleva, J. M., & Tylka, T. L. (2021). Body functionality: A review of the literature. Body image, 36, 149-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.11.006

[5] Andermo, S., Hallgren, M., Nguyen, T.-T.-D., Jonsson, S., Petersen, S., Friberg, M., . . . Elinder, L. S. (2020). School-related physical activity interventions and mental health among children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports medicine-open, 6, 1-27.

[6] Avalos, L., Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. (2005). The body appreciation scale: Development and psychometric evaluation. Body image, 2(3), 285-297.

[7] Bhui, K., & Fletcher, A. (2000). Common mood and anxiety states: gender differences in the protective effect of physical activity. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 35, 28-35.

[8] Cash, T. F., Fleming, E. C., Alindogan, J., Steadman, L., & Whitehead, A. (2002). Beyond body image as a trait: the development and validation of the Body Image States Scale. Eat Disord, 10(2), 103-113. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640260290081678

[9] Christodoulou, I. (2010). Are obese becoming idiots. Int. J. Health Sci, 3, 299-306.

[10] Clay, D., Vignoles, V. L., & Dittmar, H. (2005). Body image and self‐esteem among adolescent girls: Testing the influence of sociocultural factors. Journal of research on adolescence, 15(4), 451-477.

[11] Crawford, J. R., & Henry, J. D. (2004). The positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS): construct validity, measurement properties and normative data in a large non-clinical sample. Br J Clin Psychol, 43(Pt 3), 245-265. https://doi.org/10.1348/0144665031752934

[12] Eddolls, W. T. B., McNarry, M. A., Lester, L., Winn, C. O. N., Stratton, G., & Mackintosh, K. A. (2018). The association between physical activity, fitness and body mass index on mental well-being and quality of life in adolescents. Qual Life Res, 27(9), 2313-2320. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-018-1915-3

[13] Erickson, K. I., Hillman, C. H., & Kramer, A. F. (2015). Physical activity, brain, and cognition. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 4, 27-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2015.01.005

[14] Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T.-A. (1997). Objectification theory: Toward understanding women's lived experiences and mental health risks. Psychology of women quarterly, 21(2), 173-206.

[15] Gaspar, M. J. M., Amaral, T. F., Oliveira, B. M., & Borges, N. (2011). Protective effect of physical activity on dissatisfaction with body image in children–A cross-sectional study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 12(5), 563-569.

[16] Gilyana, M., Batrakoulis, A., & Zisi, V. (2023). Physical Activity, Body Image, and Emotional Intelligence Differences in Adults with Overweight and Obesity. Diseases, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases11020071

[17] Greenleaf, C., Boyer, E. M., & Petrie, T. A. (2009). High School Sport Participation and Subsequent Psychological Well-Being and Physical Activity: The Mediating Influences of Body Image, Physical Competence, and Instrumentality. Sex Roles, 61(9-10), 714-726. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-009-9671-z

[18] Grogan, S. (2006). Body image and health: contemporary perspectives. J Health Psychol, 11(4), 523-530. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105306065013

[19] Grogan, S. (2021). Body image: Understanding body dissatisfaction in men, women and children. Routledge.

[20] Grogan, S., & Richards, H. (2002). Body image: Focus groups with boys and men. Men and masculinities, 4(3), 219-232.

[21] Hogan, C. L., Catalino, L. I., Mata, J., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2015). Beyond emotional benefits: physical activity and sedentary behaviour affect psychosocial resources through emotions. Psychol Health, 30(3), 354-369. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2014.973410

[22] Huang, J. S., Norman, G. J., Zabinski, M. F., Calfas, K., & Patrick, K. (2007). Body image and self-esteem among adolescents undergoing an intervention targeting dietary and physical activity behaviors. Journal of adolescent health, 40(3), 245-251.

[23] Kogure, G. S., Lopes, I. P., Ribeiro, V. B., Mendes, M. C., Kodato, S., Furtado, C. L. M., . . . Reis, R. M. D. (2020). The effects of aerobic physical exercises on body image among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Affect Disord, 262, 350-358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.025

[24] Liu, Y. Y., Chen, L. L., Zhou, H. W., Guan, H., Feng, Y. M., Yangji, B. M., . . . Zhao, X. (2023). Does awareness of diabetic status increase risk of depressive or anxious symptoms? Findings from the China Multi-Ethnic cohort (CMEC) study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 320, 218-229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.135

[25] Lubans, D., Richards, J., Hillman, C., Faulkner, G., Beauchamp, M., Nilsson, M., . . . Biddle, S. (2016). Physical Activity for Cognitive and Mental Health in Youth: A Systematic Review of Mechanisms. Pediatrics, 138(3). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1642

[26] Luppino, F. S., de Wit, L. M., Bouvy, P. F., Stijnen, T., Cuijpers, P., Penninx, B. W., & Zitman, F. G. (2010). Overweight, obesity, and depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Archives of general psychiatry, 67(3), 220-229.

[27] Mahindru, A., Patil, P., & Agrawal, V. (2023). Role of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review. Cureus, 15(1), e33475. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.33475

[28] Manzano-Sanchez, D., Palop-Montoro, M. V., Arteaga-Checa, M., & Valero-Valenzuela, A. (2022). Analysis of Adolescent Physical Activity Levels and Their Relationship with Body Image and Nutritional Habits. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19053064

[29] McMahon, E. M., Corcoran, P., O’Regan, G., Keeley, H., Cannon, M., Carli, V., . . . Apter, A. (2017). Physical activity in European adolescents and associations with anxiety, depression and well-being. European child & adolescent psychiatry, 26, 111-122.

[30] Mishkind, M. E., Rodin, J., Silberstein, L. R., & Striegel-Moore, R. H. (1986). The embodiment of masculinity: Cultural, psychological, and behavioral dimensions. American Behavioral Scientist, 29(5), 545-562.

[31] Muth, J. L., & Cash, T. F. (2006). Body‐Image Attitudes: What Difference Does Gender Make?1. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 27(16), 1438-1452. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.1997.tb01607.x

[32] Rai, R. H., Asif, M., & Malhotra, N. (2018). Reliability of international physical activity questionnaire–short form IPAQ-SF for young adults in India. European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science.

[33] Schwartz, M. B., & Brownell, K. D. (2004). Obesity and body image. Body image, 1(1), 43-56.

[34] Shang, Y., Xie, H. D., & Yang, S. Y. (2021). The Relationship Between Physical Exercise and Subjective Well-Being in College Students: The Mediating Effect of Body Image and Self-Esteem. Front Psychol, 12, 658935. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.658935

[35] Slater, A., & Tiggemann, M. (2011). Gender differences in adolescent sport participation, teasing, self-objectification and body image concerns. J Adolesc, 34(3), 455-463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2010.06.007

[36] Tylka, T. L., & Wood-Barcalow, N. L. (2015). What is and what is not positive body image? Conceptual foundations and construct definition. Body image, 14, 118-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.04.001

[37] Wood-Barcalow, N. L., Tylka, T. L., & Augustus-Horvath, C. L. (2010). "But I Like My Body": Positive body image characteristics and a holistic model for young-adult women. Body image, 7(2), 106-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2010.01.001

[38] Zartaloudi, A., Christopoulos, D., Kelesi, M., Govina, O., Mantzorou, M., Adamakidou, T., . . . Vlachou, E. (2023). Body Image, Social Physique Anxiety Levels and Self-Esteem among Adults Participating in Physical Activity Programs. Diseases, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases11020066

[39] Zhang, J., & Yen, S. T. (2015). Physical Activity, Gender Difference, and Depressive Symptoms. Health Serv Res, 50(5), 1550-1573. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.12285

[40] Zhang, X., Pennell, M. L., Bernardo, B. M., Clark, J., Krok-Schoen, J. L., Focht, B. C., . . . Paskett, E. D. (2021). Body image, physical activity and psychological health in older female cancer survivors. J Geriatr Oncol, 12(7), 1059-1067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2021.04.007