Physical activity and body dissatisfaction among female university students: a three-wave study of psychological flexibility and resilience
TL;DR
Higher PA was prospectively associated with lower subsequent BD, with significant theoretically ordered indirect associations involving lower experiential avoidance, operationalized as greater PF, and greater PR.
Abstract
Objective Body dissatisfaction (BD) is a common psychological concern among female university students. Although physical activity (PA) has been associated with more favourable body-related evaluations, the psychological factors that may account for this association remain unclear. This study examined the independent and theoretically ordered indirect associations of psychological flexibility (PF) and psychological resilience (PR) in the prospective association between PA and BD. Methods A three-wave prospective study was conducted among 1,086 first- and second-year female university students from three universities in China. Assessments were administered at 6-month intervals over 12 months. The hypothesised statistical model included T1 PA, T2 PF, and T3 PR and BD. PF was operationalized as lower experiential avoidance, with lower experiential avoidance representing greater PF. Only-child status, BMI category, and self-rated health were included as covariates. Indirect associations were estimated using PROCESS Model 6 with 5,000 bootstrap resamples. Results T1 PA was positively associated with T2 PF (β = 0.419, p <.001) and T3 PR (β = 0.239, p <.001), while T2 PF was positively associated with T3 PR (β = 0.434, p <.001). T1 PA, T2 PF, and T3 PR were each negatively associated with T3 BD (β = −0.127, −0.225, and −0.355, respectively; all p <.001). The total indirect association was significant (β = −0.243, 95% bootstrap CI [−0.280, −0.206]). Significant specific indirect associations were observed through PF (β = −0.094, 95% bootstrap CI [−0.121, −0.069]), through PR (β = −0.085, 95% bootstrap CI [−0.109, −0.061]), and through the theoretically ordered PF–PR sequence (β = −0.064, 95% bootstrap CI [−0.081, −0.050]). Conclusions Higher PA was prospectively associated with lower subsequent BD, with significant theoretically ordered indirect associations involving lower experiential avoidance, operationalized as greater PF, and greater PR. These findings highlight the potential relevance of adaptive psychological resources in understanding the prospective association between PA and BD among female university students.