Internalized weight stigma and compulsive exercise among college students: a variable-centered and person-centered analysis.
- 1School of Physical Education, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
Abstract
Introduction
Internalized weight stigma may be associated with compulsive exercise through body-related self-conscious emotions and negative body image, but the underlying pathways and individual-level heterogeneity remain unclear.Methods
This cross-sectional study included 513 college students. Structural equation modeling was used to examine direct and indirect associations, and latent profile analysis was used to identify subgroups of body-related distress.Results
Internalized weight stigma was positively associated with compulsive exercise. Body shame, body guilt, and negative body image state showed significant indirect associations, including two significant serial mediation pathways. Three profiles were identified: low, moderate, and high distress. The high-distress profile had the highest compulsive exercise score.Discussion
These findings identify possible psychological pathways and a subgroup with jointly elevated distress. Because the study was cross-sectional, causal conclusions cannot be drawn.
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BibTeX
@article{zhou2026internalized,
title = {{Internalized weight stigma and compulsive exercise among college students: a variable-centered and person-centered analysis.}},
author = {Xiangzi Zhou and Jianjian Bao and Haizhou Long and Dan Liang and Kanglin Wang and Fen Qiu},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1945295},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908719},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Internalized weight stigma and compulsive exercise among college students: a variable-centered and person-centered analysis.
AU - Xiangzi Zhou
AU - Jianjian Bao
AU - Haizhou Long
AU - Dan Liang
AU - Kanglin Wang
AU - Fen Qiu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Frontiers in psychology
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1945295
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908719
AB - Introduction Internalized weight stigma may be associated with compulsive exercise through body-related self-conscious emotions and negative body image, but the underlying pathways and individual-level heterogeneity remain unclear.Methods This cross-sectional study included 513 college students. Structural equation modeling was used to examine direct and indirect associations, and latent profile analysis was used to identify subgroups of body-related distress.Results Internalized weight stigma was positively associated with compulsive exercise. Body shame, body guilt, and negative body image state showed significant indirect associations, including two significant serial mediation pathways. Three profiles were identified: low, moderate, and high distress. The high-distress profile had the highest compulsive exercise score.Discussion These findings identify possible psychological pathways and a subgroup with jointly elevated distress. Because the study was cross-sectional, causal conclusions cannot be drawn.
SN - 1664-1078
ER -