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Background: Body image, physical self-concept and anxiety are closely intertwined aspects of psychological well-being among youth. The growing influence of social media and appearance-focused culture has intensified self-evaluation pressures, making it essential to understand whether physical activity fosters protective effects or, conversely, contributes to anxiety. Methods: The study examined the relationship between body appreciation, physical self-concept, self-esteem, and anxiety among 246 young adults aged 18–35 years (47.6% athletes, 52.4% non-athletes). Participants completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the short form of Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ-S). Group differences were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H tests, and associations were explored with Spearman’s correlations. Moderation analyses (PROCESS Model 1) tested whether physical activity buffered BMI-related effects, and structural equation modeling (SEM) evaluated direct and indirect pathways. Results: Athletes reported higher self-esteem and body appreciation and scored higher on all PSDQ-S subscales, alongside lower trait anxiety but higher state anxiety than non-athletes. Higher BMI predicted lower self-esteem, body appreciation, and less favorable self-perceptions. Physical activity moderated the BMI—self-esteem and BMI—body appreciation relationships, buffering negative effects among athletes. SEM showed that physical activity positively influenced physical self-concept and body appreciation, which in turn reduced trait anxiety. Gender differences were minimal. Conclusions: Regular sport participation supports psychological resilience by enhancing self-esteem and body appreciation while reducing anxiety. However, the findings also highlight the complexity of body–mind dynamics where individuals with strong body appreciation may still experience transient anxiety in evaluative contexts. Promoting body functionality, self-compassion, and positive physical self-concept in educational and sport settings may help prevent maladaptive behaviors and foster lasting mental well-being among youth.
Błachnio et al. (Sat,) studied this question.