The mediating role of college students' body image and self-esteem in the impact of physical activity on life satisfaction and mental health

IF 2.1 4区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL

Acta Psychologica Pub Date : 2025-05-29 DOI:10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105103

Xiaoli Liu, Liting Liu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

As mental health and life satisfaction gain attention, college students increasingly recognize their impact on well-being. Physical activity is known to improve mental health and life satisfaction, potentially mediated through self-cognitive factors like body image and self-esteem. The effect of physical activity on psychological outcomes may differ by gender.

Methods

A random sample of 712 college students was surveyed using the Physical Activity Rating Scale, Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Chinese Life Satisfaction Scale, and Chinese Mental Health Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software to assess the direct and mediating effects of physical activity and the moderating role of gender.

Results

Physical activity significantly improved mental health (β = 0.0229, p < 0.001) and life satisfaction (β = 0.0377, p < 0.001). Body image mediated the effect on mental health (β = 0.0090, p < 0.01) and life satisfaction (β = 0.0121, p < 0.001). Self-esteem also mediated the relationship with mental health (β = 0.0019, p < 0.05) and life satisfaction (β = 0.0027, p < 0.001). The impact of physical activity on self-esteem was significantly stronger in females.

Conclusion

Physical activity directly enhances college students' mental health and life satisfaction and indirectly affects them by improving body image and self-esteem. Gender moderates certain pathways, suggesting tailored interventions for different genders. These findings provide theoretical and empirical support for integrating physical activity with mental health development in universities.

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大学生身体形象和自尊在体育活动对生活满意度和心理健康影响中的中介作用

随着心理健康和生活满意度受到越来越多的关注，大学生越来越认识到它们对幸福感的影响。众所周知，体育活动可以改善心理健康和生活满意度，可能是通过身体形象和自尊等自我认知因素介导的。体育活动对心理结果的影响可能因性别而异。方法采用体育活动评定量表、青少年和成人身体自尊量表、Rosenberg自尊量表、中国生活满意度量表和中国心理健康问卷，随机抽取712名大学生进行调查。采用SPSS 26.0软件对数据进行分析，评估体力活动的直接和中介作用以及性别的调节作用。结果体育锻炼显著改善心理健康(β = 0.0229, p <；0.001)和生活满意度(β = 0.0377, p <；0.001)。身体形象对心理健康的中介作用(β = 0.0090, p <；0.01)和生活满意度(β = 0.0121, p <；0.001)。自尊对心理健康也有中介作用(β = 0.0019, p <；0.05)和生活满意度(β = 0.0027, p <；0.001)。体育锻炼对自尊的影响在女性中更为明显。结论体育锻炼直接促进大学生心理健康和生活满意度，并通过改善身体形象和自尊间接影响大学生心理健康和生活满意度。性别调节了某些途径，这表明针对不同性别的干预措施是有针对性的。这些研究结果为高校体育活动与心理健康发展的整合提供了理论和实证支持。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Acta Psychologica PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL-

CiteScore

3.00

自引率

5.60%

发文量

274

审稿时长

36 weeks

期刊介绍： Acta Psychologica publishes original articles and extended reviews on selected books in any area of experimental psychology. The focus of the Journal is on empirical studies and evaluative review articles that increase the theoretical understanding of human capabilities.