Tendency to avoid physical activity mediates the association between perceived weight stigma and physical activity levels among university students

Yi, J, Chen, I-H, Chen, H-P, Lin, I-C, Chen, J-S, Huang, P-C, O'Brien, KS, Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524 and Lin, C-Y, 2024. Tendency to avoid physical activity mediates the association between perceived weight stigma and physical activity levels among university students. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 26: 100584. ISSN 1755-2966

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Abstract

Background and aims: The World Health Organization recently announced an action plan to increase global physical activity (PA) levels due to individuals' increasingly inactive lifestyle. Perceived weight stigma (PWS) is a psychosocial factor that may reduce individuals’ PA, and PA avoidance may be involved in this association. Therefore, the present study conducted a cross-sectional survey to investigate the mediating effect of tendency to avoid PA in the association between PWS and PA among Chinese university physical education (PE) students and non-PE students.

Methods: Responses from non-PE (n = 2877) and PE (n = 2286) students were collected via an online survey comprising the Perceived Weight Stigma Scale, Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form.

Results: Results of moderated atemporal mediation analysis showed a significant association between PWS and PA mediated by tendency to avoid PA among the two groups (B[SE] = 0.94[0.08], p < .001). In addition, compared to non-PE students, PE students were significantly less affected by tendency to avoid PA (B[SE] = -2.61[0.29], p < .001). However, when affected, PE students showed a larger reduction in moderate PA levels than non-PE students (B[SE] = −9.14[4.51], p = .043).

Conclusion: The present study's findings showed that PWS negatively affected PA via the atemporal mediation of tendency to avoid PA among university PE and non-PE students. Additionally, compared to non-PE students, PE students showed a larger reduction in moderate PA levels when affected by the tendency to avoid PA. Strategies aimed at reducing weight stigma or promoting PA enjoyment could be adopted to facilitate PA engagement and maintain a physically active lifestyle.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Mental Health and Physical Activity
Creators:	Yi, J., Chen, I.-H., Chen, H.-P., Lin, I.-C., Chen, J.-S., Huang, P.-C., O'Brien, K.S., Griffiths, M.D. and Lin, C.-Y.
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
Date:	March 2024
Volume:	26
ISSN:	1755-2966
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.mhpa.2024.100584 DOI 1864559 Other
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Laura Ward
Date Added:	19 Feb 2024 16:53
Last Modified:	19 Feb 2024 16:53
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/50889

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