ArticleFrontiers in psychology2026
The mediating role of physical self-perception and the moderating effect of gender in the association between physical activity and psychological well-being among young recreational participants.
Article in Frontiers in psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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7 authors.
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Abstract
Background/objective: Psychological well-being disorders are increasingly prevalent among young people. While physical activity is known to benefit psychological well-being, the mechanisms-particularly the role of physical self-perception and gender in recreational context remain underexplored. Grounded in the Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory, this study investigates the mediating role of physical self-perception in the relationship between recreational physical activity and psychological well-being and examines whether gender moderates this mediation among youth aged 15-24. Methods: A descriptive-relational survey design was employed. The sample comprised 468 young adults (58.5% male, 41.5% female; M_age = 20.08) who regularly participated in recreational physical activities. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP), and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted using PROCESS macro-Models 4 and 7. Results: The direct effect of physical activity on psychological well-being was not significant. However, physical self-perception fully mediated the relationship between physical activity and psychological well-being (indirect effect: Conclusion: Recreational physical activity improves psychological well-being entirely through the enhancement of physical self-perception, supporting the COR theory that physical activity acts as a resource investment. This mechanism is universal across genders in recreational settings. Interventions aiming to improve youth psychological well-being should not only promote physical activity but specifically focus on fostering positive physical self-perception and body image in inclusive, non-judgmental environments.
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