Exercise effects on mood, and its associations with self-regulatory skills, self-efficacy, and eating changes during the year following weight-loss treatment

Exploring the mechanisms linking perceived school climate to negative emotions in adolescents: The mediating roles of social avoidance and distress, and psychological resilience, with physical exercise level as a moderator

This study investigates the relationships between perceived school climate (PSC) and negative emotions (NEE) in adolescents, incorporating the mediating roles of social avoidance and distress (SAD) and psychological resilience (PSR) and examining the moderating influence of physical exercise level (PEL). Data were collected from 1,507 students in grades 5-9 across China using stratified random sampling. Demographic analysis revealed significant differences across gender, grade, and family location in PSC, SAD, PSR, NEE, and PEL. Structural equation modeling confirmed that PSC directly reduces NEE and exerts additional indirect effects through SAD and PSR, with a sequential chain mediation pathway accounting for the majority of the total effect. Multi-group analysis demonstrated structural invariance across genders. Moderation analysis indicated that PEL amplifies the protective effects of PSC on NEE, with higher levels of physical exercise strengthening this association. These findings provide comprehensive insights into the interplay of environmental, psychological, and behavioral factors, offering valuable implications for targeted educational and policy interventions.

Research on the influence of body image on college students' weight-loss intention: chained intermediary analysis of self-efficacy and self-esteem

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the relationship between body image, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and weight-loss intention among college students, offering insights to promote healthy and confident lifestyle habits.

Methods

Undergraduate students from western China were selected using a stratified random sampling method. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0 and AMOS 21.0 statistical software.

Results

(1) Body image showed a significantly positive correlation with self-efficacy and self-esteem but a negative correlation with weight-loss intention. Self-efficacy exhibited a significantly positive correlation with self-esteem and a negative correlation with weight-loss intention, while self-esteem was significantly negatively correlated with weight-loss intention. (2) Body image directly impacted weight-loss intention [Effect Size (ES) = -0.120]. Self-efficacy (ES = -0.069) and self-esteem (ES = -0.119) played significant mediating roles between body image and weight-loss intention, respectively. (3) The chained intermediary role of self-efficacy and self-esteem also reached significance (ES = -0.038).

Conclusion

Body image conducts effect on the degree of weight-loss intention among college students through direct ways or indirect ways such as the intermediary role of self-efficacy and self-esteem, and also the chained intermediary role of self-efficacy and self-esteem. In addition, self-esteem is another key factors affecting college students' weight-loss intention.

Research on the Influence of Media Internalized Pressure on College Students' Sports Participation-Chained Intermediary Analysis of Social Physique Anxiety and Weight Control Self-Efficacy

Purpose: Discuss the relationship among college students’ media internalized pressure, social physique anxiety, weight control self-efficacy, and sports participation in providing a reference for promoting college students to develop healthy and confident living habits.

Methods: Take Southwest University in China as the object, select the subjects by stratified random sampling, and process the data with SPSS19.0 and AMOS21.0 statistical software.

Results: (1) Media internalized pressure is positively correlated with social physique anxiety, weight control self-efficacy, and sports participation; social physique anxiety is significantly positively correlated with weight control self-efficacy and sports participation, and weight control self-efficacy is significantly positively correlated with sports participation; (2) media internalized pressure has a direct effect on sports participation (ES = 0.456), and social physique anxiety (ES = 0.136) and weight control self-efficacy (ES = 0.102) play significant mediating roles in the relationship between media internalized pressure and sports participation, respectively; the chained mediating force of social physique anxiety and weight control self-efficacy also reaches a significant level (ES = 0.027).

Conclusion: Media internalized pressure can influence college students’ sports participation through the direct path as well as indirect paths such as social physique anxiety, the intermediary effect of weight control self-efficacy, and chained intermediary effect of social physique anxiety–weight control self-efficacy, and social physique anxiety is another key factor affecting college students’ sports participation except media internalized pressure.

Understanding low adherence to an exercise program for adolescents with obesity: the HEARTY trial

INTRODUCTION

Despite efforts to improve adherence to physical activity interventions in youth with obesity, low adherence and attrition remain areas of great concern.

OBJECTIVE

The study was designed to determine which physiological and/or psychological factors predicted low adherence in adolescents with obesity enrolled in a 6-month exercise intervention study aimed to improve body composition.

METHODS

Three hundred four adolescents with obesity aged 14-18 years who volunteered for the HEARTY (Healthy Eating Aerobic and Resistance Training in Youth) randomized controlled trial completed physiological (body mass index, waist circumference, per cent body fat, resting metabolic rate and aerobic fitness) and psychological (body image, mood, self-esteem and self-efficacy) measures.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-one out of 228 (62%) randomized to exercise groups had low adherence (completed <70% of the prescribed four exercise sessions per week) to the intervention protocol. Logistic regression revealed that there were no baseline demographic or physiological variables that predicted low adherence in the participants. Appearance concern (a subscale of body image) (odds ratio [OR] 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01, 2.1, P = 0.04), depressive mood (OR 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.23, P = 0.03) and confused mood (OR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.27, P = 0.003) (two subscales of mood) were significant predictors of low adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents with obesity who had higher appearance concerns and depressive and confused moods were less likely to adhere to exercise. Body image and mood should be screened to identify adolescents who may be at high risk of poor adherence and who may need concurrent or treatment support to address these psychological issues to derive maximal health benefits from an exercise programme.