Start Date
17-6-2025 3:00 PM
End Date
17-6-2025 4:30 PM
Abstract
Introduction Appearance-related and weight-related stigma have been identified as factors influencing an individual’s engagement in physical activities and exercise. However, the social-psychological mechanisms underlying the avoidance of these activities remain insufficiently explored. This study aims to investigate the impact of weight stigma on exercise avoidance behaviors among university students and examine the mediating roles of internalized weight stigma and social anxiety.
Methodology The study recruited 1,397 Chinese university students (ages 17-25) through an online survey, assessing their perceptions of weight stigma, internalized weight stigma, social anxiety, and exercise avoidance behaviors. A chained mediation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro (Hayes, A.F.) to test whether internalized weight stigma and social anxiety could mediate the relationship between (x) weight stigma and (y) avoidance of physical activity motivation.
Results The results confirmed our hypothesis that, after adjusting for covariates such as gender, age, and body mass index, the relationship between weight stigma and exercise avoidance was partially mediated by internalized weight stigma and social anxiety. Specifically, higher perceptions of weight stigma were associated with higher levels of internalized weight stigma, which in turn increased social anxiety, ultimately leading to greater exercise avoidance behaviors.
Conclusions These findings emphasize the important role of psychological factors in exercise behaviors and highlight the critical influence of internalized weight stigma and social anxiety on exercise avoidance. These results provide a theoretical basis for future psychological interventions (such as reducing internalized weight stigma and alleviating social anxiety) aimed at promoting physical activity among university students.
Recommended Citation
LI, Qingqing and Li, Yun, "The Relationship Between Weight Stigma and Exercise Avoidance: Exploring the Role of Internalized Weight Stigma and Social Anxiety" (2025). International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. 73.
https://sword.mtu.ie/isapa/2025/day2/73
The Relationship Between Weight Stigma and Exercise Avoidance: Exploring the Role of Internalized Weight Stigma and Social Anxiety
Introduction Appearance-related and weight-related stigma have been identified as factors influencing an individual’s engagement in physical activities and exercise. However, the social-psychological mechanisms underlying the avoidance of these activities remain insufficiently explored. This study aims to investigate the impact of weight stigma on exercise avoidance behaviors among university students and examine the mediating roles of internalized weight stigma and social anxiety.
Methodology The study recruited 1,397 Chinese university students (ages 17-25) through an online survey, assessing their perceptions of weight stigma, internalized weight stigma, social anxiety, and exercise avoidance behaviors. A chained mediation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro (Hayes, A.F.) to test whether internalized weight stigma and social anxiety could mediate the relationship between (x) weight stigma and (y) avoidance of physical activity motivation.
Results The results confirmed our hypothesis that, after adjusting for covariates such as gender, age, and body mass index, the relationship between weight stigma and exercise avoidance was partially mediated by internalized weight stigma and social anxiety. Specifically, higher perceptions of weight stigma were associated with higher levels of internalized weight stigma, which in turn increased social anxiety, ultimately leading to greater exercise avoidance behaviors.
Conclusions These findings emphasize the important role of psychological factors in exercise behaviors and highlight the critical influence of internalized weight stigma and social anxiety on exercise avoidance. These results provide a theoretical basis for future psychological interventions (such as reducing internalized weight stigma and alleviating social anxiety) aimed at promoting physical activity among university students.