Body image and loneliness as mediators of the relationship between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy in college students
Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy among college students and to examine the mediating effects of loneliness and body image. Through an analysis of parallel mediating effects, the intrinsic mechanisms underlying...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16307-8 |
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| author | Fangbing Zhou Wenlei Wang Jie Wu Yuyang Nie Chunxue Shao Wentao Qiu Cong Liu Jinchao Gao |
| author_facet | Fangbing Zhou Wenlei Wang Jie Wu Yuyang Nie Chunxue Shao Wentao Qiu Cong Liu Jinchao Gao |
| author_sort | Fangbing Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy among college students and to examine the mediating effects of loneliness and body image. Through an analysis of parallel mediating effects, the intrinsic mechanisms underlying these variables are revealed and provide theoretical support for promoting healthy behaviours among college students. The study, conducted in April 2025, employed a cross-sectional design to survey college students across northeast, North, central, East, and South China. A total of 1102 valid questionnaires were collected. The level of physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3). Exercise self-efficacy was measured using the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale. Body image was assessed using the Physical Self-Esteem Scale (PSPP), and loneliness was calculated using the UCLA Loneliness Inventory (3rd edition). The data were analysed using SPSS 27 software for descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and mediation effect analyses. A significant direct positive correlation was found between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy (β = 0.2313, p < 0.001). Furthermore, loneliness and body image played important mediating roles in the relationship between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy. Specifically, physical activity indirectly improved exercise self-efficacy by reducing loneliness (β=-0.124, p < 0.001) and enhancing body image (β = 0.383, p < 0.001). The mediating effect accounted for 32.1% of the total impact, and the mediating effect of body image (28.5%) was significantly more potent than that of loneliness (3.5%). This study reveals the mechanism by which physical activity indirectly increases college students’ sense of exercise self-efficacy by reducing loneliness and improving body image. This finding shows the importance of focusing on individual psychological states when promoting physical activity. Interventions should promote both positive body image and a favourable social environment to improve college students’ exercise self-efficacy and overall psychological well-being. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1c116d2b65504e41b2a0ddd1790c2a6d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-1c116d2b65504e41b2a0ddd1790c2a6d2025-08-24T11:28:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-16307-8Body image and loneliness as mediators of the relationship between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy in college studentsFangbing Zhou0Wenlei Wang1Jie Wu2Yuyang Nie3Chunxue Shao4Wentao Qiu5Cong Liu6Jinchao Gao7College of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education, Northeast Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education and Sport, Beijing Normal UniversityAbstract The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy among college students and to examine the mediating effects of loneliness and body image. Through an analysis of parallel mediating effects, the intrinsic mechanisms underlying these variables are revealed and provide theoretical support for promoting healthy behaviours among college students. The study, conducted in April 2025, employed a cross-sectional design to survey college students across northeast, North, central, East, and South China. A total of 1102 valid questionnaires were collected. The level of physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3). Exercise self-efficacy was measured using the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale. Body image was assessed using the Physical Self-Esteem Scale (PSPP), and loneliness was calculated using the UCLA Loneliness Inventory (3rd edition). The data were analysed using SPSS 27 software for descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and mediation effect analyses. A significant direct positive correlation was found between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy (β = 0.2313, p < 0.001). Furthermore, loneliness and body image played important mediating roles in the relationship between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy. Specifically, physical activity indirectly improved exercise self-efficacy by reducing loneliness (β=-0.124, p < 0.001) and enhancing body image (β = 0.383, p < 0.001). The mediating effect accounted for 32.1% of the total impact, and the mediating effect of body image (28.5%) was significantly more potent than that of loneliness (3.5%). This study reveals the mechanism by which physical activity indirectly increases college students’ sense of exercise self-efficacy by reducing loneliness and improving body image. This finding shows the importance of focusing on individual psychological states when promoting physical activity. Interventions should promote both positive body image and a favourable social environment to improve college students’ exercise self-efficacy and overall psychological well-being.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16307-8Physical activityExercise self-efficacyLonelinessBody imageCollege students |
| spellingShingle | Fangbing Zhou Wenlei Wang Jie Wu Yuyang Nie Chunxue Shao Wentao Qiu Cong Liu Jinchao Gao Body image and loneliness as mediators of the relationship between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy in college students Scientific Reports Physical activity Exercise self-efficacy Loneliness Body image College students |
| title | Body image and loneliness as mediators of the relationship between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy in college students |
| title_full | Body image and loneliness as mediators of the relationship between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy in college students |
| title_fullStr | Body image and loneliness as mediators of the relationship between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy in college students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Body image and loneliness as mediators of the relationship between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy in college students |
| title_short | Body image and loneliness as mediators of the relationship between physical activity and exercise self-efficacy in college students |
| title_sort | body image and loneliness as mediators of the relationship between physical activity and exercise self efficacy in college students |
| topic | Physical activity Exercise self-efficacy Loneliness Body image College students |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16307-8 |
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