Impact of body image on women’s fitness persistence: the chain mediation role of self-efficacy and exercise motivation

Abstract

Background – Body image, as a crucial cognitive-emotional factor in women’s fitness behavior, has garnered attention for its multifaceted influence on exercise persistence. However, the chain mediation it consconsently that involving self-efficacy and exercise motivation has not been fully elucidated. Objective – This study aims to explore the pathways through which body image is associated with women’s fitness persistence, and to examine the individual and chain mediation effects of self-efficacy and exercise motivation. Methods – A cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving 721 women aged 18 to 38 from Shandong Province. The instruments used included the Body Image State Scale, Exercise Persistence Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Exercise Motivation Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 and PROCESS 4.0, with correlation analysis, regression analysis, and bootstrap mediation effect testing. Results – Body image significantly and positively predicted fitness persistence (β = 0.695, p < 0.001), with 54.1% of the total effect explained through mediation pathways. The single-step mediation effect of self-efficacy was the strongest (22.8%), the chain mediation (body image → self-efficacy → exercise motivation → behavior) accounted for 19.4%, and the independent mediation by exercise motivation accounted for 11.9%. Notably, self-efficacy had the highest explanatory power (R2 = 46.7%), underscoring its pivotal role in sustaining behavior. Conclusion – Body image is related to long-term fitness persistence among women by enhancing self-efficacy and exercise motivation, particularly via their chain mediation mechanism. These findings provide theoretical support for intervention strategies centered on cognitive restructuring and motivational enhancement.