ArticleFrontiers in public health2026
Self-confidence and body image among adults engaged in daily bodybuilding exercise compared with non-exercising adults: a case-control study.
Article in Frontiers in public health, 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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Abstract
Background: Regular bodybuilding and resistance training may positively influence psychological wellbeing, particularly self-confidence and body image perception. This study aimed to compare self-confidence and body image between adults engaged in daily bodybuilding exercise and non-exercising adults in Iraq. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Al-Diwaniyah City, Iraq, between August 2025 and April 2026. A total of 188 participants were enrolled using a purposive sampling method, including 94 adults engaged in regular bodybuilding exercise and 94 non-exercising controls. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Self-Confidence Scale, and the Body Image Scale. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Statistical significance was considered at Results: No significant sociodemographic differences were observed between the two groups ( Conclusion: Adults who regularly participated in bodybuilding had significantly higher self-confidence and a more positive body image than non-exercising adults. These findings indicate an association rather than a causal relationship, as individuals with higher self-confidence and a more positive body image may be more likely to engage in bodybuilding. Regular participation in bodybuilding was associated with higher self-confidence and more positive body image among adults in this study. However, because of the case-control design, the direction of this association cannot be determined.
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