Applicability of the Chinese weight self-stigma questionnaire and its relationships with depression, physical exercise, and quality of life
Abstract This study aims to validate the psychometric properties of the Chinese College Students’ Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), with a focus on examining its cross-cultural adaptability to provide evidence for localized measurement tools. It further seeks to explore the mechanism through...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| author | Yuchao Fu Jixiang Liu Wei Lyu |
| author_facet | Yuchao Fu Jixiang Liu Wei Lyu |
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| description | Abstract This study aims to validate the psychometric properties of the Chinese College Students’ Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), with a focus on examining its cross-cultural adaptability to provide evidence for localized measurement tools. It further seeks to explore the mechanism through which weight self-stigma influences quality of life satisfaction, elucidating the chain mediating effects of physical exercise (behavior) and depression-anxiety-stress (psychology) to fill the gap in mechanistic research on these pathways. Study 1 assessed validity and reliability via item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Study 2 used the WSSQ (two dimensions: self-devaluation, Fear of Enacted Stigma), physical exercise scale (frequency, intensity, duration), DASS-21 (three subscales), and life satisfaction scale to construct structural equation models for testing chain mediation. Study 1’s EFA extracted two factors (self-devaluation, Fear of Enacted Stigma) explaining 63.05% variance. CFA showed excellent fit (χ2/df = 1.22, RMSEA = 0.032, CFI = 0.992). Convergent validity (AVE = 0.562/0.605; CR = 0.884/0.901) and discriminant validity (AVE square root > inter-factor correlations) met standards, with strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.899). Study 2 found weight self-stigma negatively predicted life satisfaction (β = -0.390, p < 0.001), with significant chain mediation via physical exercise and depression-anxiety-stress (indirect effect = 0.059, 95% CI [0.011, 0.133]). The Chinese WSSQ demonstrated robust reliability and validity among college students. Weight management interventions should target weight self-stigma reduction, fostering “psychology-behaviour-health” virtuous cycles through physical exercise promotion and mental health improvement to enhance life satisfaction. The scale serves as a valuable tool for weight-related research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-73b251411ccb4fecbcc02e3cc2b7fa3c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-73b251411ccb4fecbcc02e3cc2b7fa3c2025-08-20T04:01:23ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-07951-1Applicability of the Chinese weight self-stigma questionnaire and its relationships with depression, physical exercise, and quality of lifeYuchao Fu0Jixiang Liu1Wei Lyu2Changzhi UniversityChangzhi UniversityAl-Farabi Kazakh National UniversityAbstract This study aims to validate the psychometric properties of the Chinese College Students’ Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), with a focus on examining its cross-cultural adaptability to provide evidence for localized measurement tools. It further seeks to explore the mechanism through which weight self-stigma influences quality of life satisfaction, elucidating the chain mediating effects of physical exercise (behavior) and depression-anxiety-stress (psychology) to fill the gap in mechanistic research on these pathways. Study 1 assessed validity and reliability via item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Study 2 used the WSSQ (two dimensions: self-devaluation, Fear of Enacted Stigma), physical exercise scale (frequency, intensity, duration), DASS-21 (three subscales), and life satisfaction scale to construct structural equation models for testing chain mediation. Study 1’s EFA extracted two factors (self-devaluation, Fear of Enacted Stigma) explaining 63.05% variance. CFA showed excellent fit (χ2/df = 1.22, RMSEA = 0.032, CFI = 0.992). Convergent validity (AVE = 0.562/0.605; CR = 0.884/0.901) and discriminant validity (AVE square root > inter-factor correlations) met standards, with strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.899). Study 2 found weight self-stigma negatively predicted life satisfaction (β = -0.390, p < 0.001), with significant chain mediation via physical exercise and depression-anxiety-stress (indirect effect = 0.059, 95% CI [0.011, 0.133]). The Chinese WSSQ demonstrated robust reliability and validity among college students. Weight management interventions should target weight self-stigma reduction, fostering “psychology-behaviour-health” virtuous cycles through physical exercise promotion and mental health improvement to enhance life satisfaction. The scale serves as a valuable tool for weight-related research.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07951-1Weight self-stigmaPhysical exerciseDepression-anxiety-stressQuality of lifeCollege students |
| spellingShingle | Yuchao Fu Jixiang Liu Wei Lyu Applicability of the Chinese weight self-stigma questionnaire and its relationships with depression, physical exercise, and quality of life Scientific Reports Weight self-stigma Physical exercise Depression-anxiety-stress Quality of life College students |
| title | Applicability of the Chinese weight self-stigma questionnaire and its relationships with depression, physical exercise, and quality of life |
| title_full | Applicability of the Chinese weight self-stigma questionnaire and its relationships with depression, physical exercise, and quality of life |
| title_fullStr | Applicability of the Chinese weight self-stigma questionnaire and its relationships with depression, physical exercise, and quality of life |
| title_full_unstemmed | Applicability of the Chinese weight self-stigma questionnaire and its relationships with depression, physical exercise, and quality of life |
| title_short | Applicability of the Chinese weight self-stigma questionnaire and its relationships with depression, physical exercise, and quality of life |
| title_sort | applicability of the chinese weight self stigma questionnaire and its relationships with depression physical exercise and quality of life |
| topic | Weight self-stigma Physical exercise Depression-anxiety-stress Quality of life College students |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07951-1 |
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