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Smith SS, Ten Hoor GA, Lakhote N, Massar K. Emotion in Motion: Weight Bias Internalization, Exercise Avoidance, and Fitness-Related Self-Conscious Emotions. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:955. [PMID: 38786367 PMCID: PMC11121544 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12100955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Weight bias internalization (WBI), the process of internalizing negative attitudes and stereotypes towards overweight individuals, significantly impacts self-worth and health behaviors, such as exercise avoidance. In the current study, we focused on the mediating role of fitness-related self-conscious emotions, particularly shame and guilt. A cross-sectional study involving 150 self-described overweight Dutch women (age M = 49.63 ± 10.72) was conducted online. Participants completed measures assessing weight bias internalization, exercise avoidance, and body/fitness-related self-conscious emotions. Data were analyzed using linear regression and mediation analysis, controlling for age, BMI, and exercise frequency. The results show that weight bias internalization, guilt-free shame, and shame-free guilt uniquely predict exercise avoidance. Guilt-free shame partially mediated the relationship between weight bias internalization and exercise avoidance, indicating that increased internalized weight bias led to higher levels of guilt-free shame, which in turn contributed to exercise avoidance. Shame-free guilt did not act as a unique mediator. These findings underscore the importance of addressing weight bias internalization and fitness-related self-conscious emotions, particularly guilt-free shame, in interventions targeting exercise avoidance among overweight individuals. Strategies promoting self-compassion and reducing shame may prove beneficial in improving exercise behaviors and overall well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Karlijn Massar
- Department of Work & Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (S.S.S.); (G.A.T.H.); (N.L.)
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Saffari M, Chen IH, Huang PC, O’Brien KS, Hsieh YP, Chen JK, Chang YH, Jiang X, Bevan N, Chang YL, Chen JS, Tsai CC, Griffiths MD, Lin CY. Measurement Invariance and Psychometric Evaluation of the Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS) Among Mainland Chinese University Students. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:3821-3836. [PMID: 37724136 PMCID: PMC10505390 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s425804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Preventative factors in young people's physical inactivity require further understanding, including related psychosocial factors (eg, body image and weight stigma). The Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS) is a recently developed instrument to address this issue and the present study examined its psychometric properties among Chinese university students particularly in relation to patterns across sex, physical activity (PA) level, and weight status. Methods Using a convenience sample of 3142 students (mean age = 19.8 years; 56% female) in mainland China, data were collected using an online survey between August and October 2022. Psychometric instruments including the Weight Bias Internalization Scale, 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form were administered along with the TAPAS to assess convergent and discriminant validity. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) assessed the measurement invariance across specific groups. Results The unidimensional structure of the scale was confirmed through CFA (CFI=0.995; RMSEA=0.046). All configural, metric and scalar models of invariance indicated that the scale was invariant across sex, PA level, and weight status. Acceptable convergent and discriminant validity for the scale were found. Conclusion The TAPAS is a suitable instrument to assess body image and weight stigma concerns for avoiding physical activity and sport among Chinese university students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Saffari
- Health Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Health Education Department, Faculty of Health, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - I-Hua Chen
- Chinese Academy of Education Big Data, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Po-Ching Huang
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Kerry S O’Brien
- School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Yi-Ping Hsieh
- Department of Social Work, College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA
| | - Ji-Kang Chen
- Department of Social Work, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Yun-Hsuan Chang
- Institute of Gerontology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Xingyong Jiang
- Yangan Primary School of Qionglai City, Qionglai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Nadia Bevan
- School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Yen-Ling Chang
- Department of Family Medicine, Cardinal Tien Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Sheng Chen
- Department of Medical Research, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Chung Tsai
- Department of Pediatrics, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Mark D Griffiths
- International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Chung-Ying Lin
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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