The Relationship Between Physical Exercise and Subjective Well-Being in College Students: The Mediating Effect of Body Image and Self-Esteem
Open accessAbstract
This research examines the relationship between physical exercise and subjective well-being via the mediation of body image and self-esteem, thereby providing some suggestions on the improvement of subjective well-being in college students. A total of 671 college students from three universities of science and engineering in Sichuan, China voluntarily participated in the survey. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and mediation model analysis were conducted using the SPSS statistics 19.0. The results showed that (1) the physical exercise level was positively and significantly correlated with the subjective well-being level in each dimension ( R = 0.12–0.64, p < 0.01) (2) college students with the medium and high level of exercise have higher subjective well-being than those with the low level of exercise, and (3) body image and self-esteem played a complete mediation role between physical exercise and subjective well-being. The mediation analysis revealed two paths: first, the single mediating path via self-esteem [indirect effect = 0.087, 95% CI: (0.037, 0.141)] and second, the serial mediating path via body image and self-esteem [indirect effect = 0.038, 95% CI: (0.021, 0.158)]. Some practical implications have been discussed on the physical exercise intervention for promoting the subjective well-being level in college students.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The impact of gender on body dissatisfaction is not uniform across cultural contexts but shaped by unique values and norms of each society.
“This intersectionality reveals that the impact of gender on body dissatisfaction is not uniform across different cultural contexts but is instead shaped by the unique values and norms of each society [169].”
From Body Perceptions and Psychological Well-Being: A Review of the Impact of Social Media and Physical Measurements on Self-Esteem and Mental Health with a Focus on Body Image Satisfaction and Its Relationship with Cultural and Gender Factors (2024) · cites this paper as [169]
The Discussion’s “Limitations and Future Research Directions” section says the study examined Chinese college students and failed to examine the influence of gender variables. Searches for cultural differences in gender and body dissatisfaction found no passage addressing whether that relationship varies across societies or is shaped by their values and norms. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Diener, E. (1984) · Social indicators research series · doi:10.1007/978-90-481-2350-6_2 · Cited by 11,469 · see citing works
ФАКТОРЫ ПСИХОЛОГИЧЕСКОГО БЛАГОПОЛУЧИЯ ЛЮДЕЙ ПОЖИЛОГО ВОЗРАСТА
М.Р., Н., & С.И., Б. (2026) · CyberLeninK (CyberLeninka) · doi:10.60797/irj.2026.170.43 · Cited by 7,967 · see citing works
Subjective well-being. The science of happiness and a proposal for a national index
Diener, E. (2000) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.55.1.34 · Cited by 7,121 · see citing works
Huang, Y., & Zhao, N. (2020) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112954 · Cited by 3,736 · see citing works
Cross-cultural correlates of life satisfaction and self-esteem.
Diener, E., & Diener, M. (1995) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.68.4.653 · Cited by 1,835 · see citing works
Cross-Cultural Correlates of Life Satisfaction and Self-Esteem
Diener, E., & Diener, M. (1995) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.68.4.653 · Cited by 1,722 · see citing works
Bolin, J. H. (2014) · Journal of Educational Measurement · doi:10.1111/jedm.12050 · Cited by 1,515 · see citing works
The shifting basis of life satisfaction judgments across cultures: Emotions versus norms
Suh, E., Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Triandis, H. C. (1998) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.74.2.482 · Cited by 1,282 · see citing works
Body image: past, present, and future
Cash, T. F. (2003) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/s1740-1445(03)00011-1 · Cited by 1,015 · see citing works
Self-esteem and the quest for felt security: How perceived regard regulates attachment processes.
Murray, S., Holmes, J. G., & Griffin, D. W. (2000) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.78.3.478 · Cited by 559 · see citing works
Self-esteem and the quest for felt security: How perceived regard regulates attachment processes.
Murray, S. L., Holmes, J. G., & Griffin, D. W. (2000) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.78.3.478 · Cited by 559 · see citing works
Exercise and body image: A meta-analysis
Hausenblas, H. A., & Fallon, E. A. (2005) · Psychology and Health · doi:10.1080/14768320500105270 · Cited by 528 · see citing works
McAuley, E., Mihalko, S. L., & Bane, S. M. (1997) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1023/a:1025591214100 · Cited by 187 · see citing works
Ouyang, Y., Wang, K., Zhang, T., Peng, L., Song, G., & Luo, J. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03039 · Cited by 185 · see citing works
Cash, T. F., Counts, B., & Huffine, C. E. (1990) · Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment · doi:10.1007/bf00960765 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Koronczai, B., Kökönyei, G., Urbán, R., Kun, B., Pápay, O., Nagygyörgy, K., Griffiths, M. D., & Demetrovics, Z. (2013) · The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse · doi:10.3109/00952990.2013.803111 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Huang, Y., & Zhao, N. (2020) · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-17172/v1 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Normative predictions of collectivist‐individualist intentions and behaviour of Indians
Sinha, J. B. P., Vohra, N., Singhal, S., Sinha, R. B. N., & Ushashree, S. (2002) · International Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1080/00207590244000124 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
The effects of step dance on physical self-perception of female and male university students.
Aşçı, F. H. (2002) · International journal of sport psychology · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Li, J., Delvecchio, E., Riso, D. D., Salcuni, S., & Mazzeschi, C. (2015) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2015.02.036 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Shuang, G. A. O., ZHANG, X., & Xu, X. (2015) · Advances in Psychological Science · doi:10.3724/sp.j.1042.2015.01499 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Body Image and Subjective Well-Being in Portuguese Adolescents
Borges, A., de Matos, M. G., & Diniz, J. A. (2013) · The Spanish Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1017/sjp.2013.24 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
The Effect of Karate Practice on Self-Esteem in Young Adults with Visual Impairment: A Case Study
Qasim, S., Ravenscroft, J., & Sproule, J. (2016) · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Body Image, Self-esteem and Depression in College Female Students: Normal and Overweight
Shin, H. S., & Paik, S. N. (2003) · Daehan ganho haghoeji · doi:10.4040/jkan.2003.33.3.331 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Borges, G. L. G., Benjet, C. L., Medina‐Mora, M. E., & Miller, M. R. (2010) · PubMed · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Zhangyua, C. (2015) · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Ya-zheng, M. (2009) · Tiyu kexue · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Analysis and Perspective on Mental Health Effects of Physical Exercise
Heng-cha, Y., & Xue-lin, F. (2004) · Tiyu kexue · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Ai-guo, C. (2010) · Journal of Capital Institute of Physical Education · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Study of effects of physical exercise on physical self-concept of university students in Hongkong
Bo-guang, Z. (2006) · Wuhan Ti-Yuan xuebao · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Relationship among Physical Exercise,Self-esteem and Personality of Teenager in Beijing
Mao, Z. (2013) · Tiyu kexue · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Jiang-ying, Z. (2010) · Beijing Tiyu Daxue xuebao · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 23
- Chen Z. S. Ji L. (2006). The effects of physical exercise on subjective well being of senior high school students and their psychological mechanism. Acta Psychol. Sin. 2006, 562– 575. 10.15942/j.jcsu.2013.10.003 · DOI
- Chen K. M. Yang J. Dong L. Xia Q. B. (2013). Effect of physical exercise on adolescents’ psychological stress, coping styles and subjective well- being. J. Chengdu Sport Univ. 39, 75– 79. 10.15942/j.jcsu.2013.10.003 · DOI
- Chen F. L. Yang J. Ji L. (2015). Psychological effects of exercise research: content, development, mechanism and trend. J. Wuhan Inst. Phys. Educ. 49, 94– 100. 10.15930/j.cnki.wtxb.2015.06.016 · DOI
- Ding S. Y. Xiao R. Zhang Z. (2016). The relationship between college students’ sports and life-meaning. Chin. J. School Health 37, 445– 448. 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2016.03.037 · DOI
- Fang R. (2008). Discussion on the relationship between physical exercise time, frequency, intensity and self-esteem of college students. Chin. J. Sports Med. 6, 758– 760. 10.16038/j.1000-6710.2008.06.033 · DOI
- Fang R. Chen R. H. (2016). Mediating effect of physical exercise level between SOC strategies of intentional self-regulation and self-esteem among college students. J. Tianjin Univ. Sport 31, 393– 435. 10.13297/j.cnki.issn1005-0000.2016.05.005 · DOI
- Feng Q. Y. (2005). Body image and its relationship with depression, and social avoidance, & Anxiety among undergraduates. Master Thesis. Shanxi University. Available at: https://kns.cnki.net/KCMS/detail/detail.aspx?dbname=CMFD0506&filename=2005114285.nh (Accessed May 6, 2021).
- Guo C. H. (2019). The relationship between college students’ ego-centrism and subjective well-being: the mediating effect of self-esteem. Stud. Psychol. Behav. 17, 546– 552. 10.3969/j.issn.1672-0628.2019.04.014 · DOI
- Guo Q. G. Luo J. Sang M. L. Xie H. D. (2017). Influence of self-esteem and body image on sports participation in students. J. Xi’an Phys. Educ. Univ. 34, 730– 738. 10.16063/j.cnki.issn1001-747x.2017.06.015 · DOI
- Hu H. F. (2017). Effect of body image and social physique anxiety on motor behavior in freshman. J. Chengdu Sport Univ. 43, 120– 126. 10.15942/j.jcsu.2017.02.021 · DOI
- Jiang B. Y. Zhu P. L. (1997). The mental health of college and middle school students in shanghai and its relationship with physical exercise. J. Psychol. Sci. 3, 235– 287. 10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.1997.03.010 · DOI
- Kou M. J. (2017). Effect of perspective taking on adolescents’ negative physical self perception. Master Thesis. Northwest Normal University. Available at: https://kns.cnki.net/KCMS/detail/detail.aspx?dbname=CMFD201902&filename=1017203096.nh (Accessed May 6, 2021).
- Li J. Z. Wang W. Z. Shi J. N. (2003). Positive psychology: a new trend in psychology (in Chinese). Adv. Psychol. Sci. 11, 321– 327. 10.3969/j.issn.1671-3710.2003.03.014 · DOI
- Lin M. Hong C. (2020). Intervention effect of group counseling on the self-esteem of impoverished undergraduates: a therapy based on acceptance and commitment therapy and music therapy. Chin. J. School Health 41, 73– 77. 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2020.01.020 · DOI
- Liu Z. H. (2020). Effects of physical exercise on negative emotion for university students ——The mediating and moderating effects of self-efficacy and mental resilience. J. Phys. Educ. 27, 102– 108. 10.16237/j.cnki.cn44-1404/g8.2020.05.014 · DOI
- Song J. X. (2016). The influence of body image and self-esteem on College Students’ Sports Participation. Master Thesis. Southwest University. Available at: https://kns.cnki.net/KCMS/detail/detail.aspx?dbname=CMFD201701&filename=1016766350.nh (Accessed May 6, 2021).
- Tian L. M. (2006). Shortcoming and merits of Chinese version of Rosenberg (1965) self-esteem scale. Psychol. Explor. 26, 88– 91. 10.3969/j.issn.1003-5184.2006.02.020 · DOI
- Wang H. Z. Jiang Q. Hou L. L. (2017a). The relationship between character strengths and subjective well-being among college students: the roles of strengths use and stressful life events. Psychol. Dev. Educ. 33, 95– 104. 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2017.01.11 · DOI
- Wang Y. H. Xie X. C. Chen H. Lei L. (2017b). Body image disturbance among females: the influence mechanism of social network sites. Chin. J. Clin. Psychol. 25, 1079– 1087. 10.16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2017.06.018 · DOI
- Xiao R. Wangxiu Q. Z. Zheng Z. S. (2017). The relationship between physical activity and depression in college students: the influence of gender differences. Chin. J. Sport. Med. 36, 812– 822. 10.16038/j.1000-6710.2017.09.013 · DOI
- Yan J. Li Q. Zhang Z. K. Wang B. Y. Zhu F. S. (2019). The influence of extracurricular physical exercise on the physical self-esteem and self-confidence of elementary students. Sport. Sci. 40, 100– 104. 10.13598/j.issn1004-4590.2019.02.012 · DOI
- Zeng X. Huang X. T. (2001). Research on body self abroad. Adv. Psychol. Sci. 1, 41– 46. 10.3969/j.issn.1671-3710.2001.01.008 · DOI
- Zhang L. W. (2007). Physical self and subjective well-being. J. Beijing Sport Univ. 8, 1011– 1021. 10.19582/j.cnki.11-3785/g8.2007.08.002 · DOI
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Merino, M., Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., Rubio-Zarapuz, A., Villanueva-Tobaldo, C. V., Martín-Rodríguez, A., & Clemente-Suárez, V. J. (2024) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare12141396 · Cited by 349 · see citing works
“This intersectionality reveals that the impact of gender on body dissatisfaction is not uniform across different cultural contexts but is instead shaped by the unique values and norms of each society [169].”
Background
- Authors
- Shang, Y., Xie, H.-D., & Yang, S.-Y.
- Affiliations
- Chengdu Sport University (CN)
- Southwest University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Shang, Yao
- Venue
- Frontiers in Psychology
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2021-05-28
- Volume
- 12
- Pages
- 658935-658935
- ISSN
- 1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8194825
- OpenAlex
- W3168511933
- Cited by
- 108
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 25 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 11.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Lifestyle Studies
- Keywords
- physical activity, subjective well-being, body image, self-esteem, university students, mediation, exercise intervention, mental health
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
