Abstract While the physical-mental health link in adolescence is widely acknowledged, little is known regarding the extent to which positive body image mediates the relationship between physical activity and subjective wellbeing among adolescents. This study leverages the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018 dataset ( N = 64,697) to investigate the direct relationships among physical activity, body image, and subjective wellbeing, as well as the indirect relationship between physical activity and subjective wellbeing via body image. Guided by the Exercise and Self-Esteem Model (EXSEM), a structural mediation model was built to assess these links. For direct pathways, physical activity is positively and significantly associated with positive body image (std. β = 0.114, p < 0.001) and subjective wellbeing (std. β = 0.067, p < 0.001). In terms of indirect relationships, a positive body image partially and significantly mediates the relationship between physical activity and subjective wellbeing (std. β = 0.053, p < 0.001). In sum, the aggregate influence of physical activity and subjective wellbeing is estimated at 0.120 ( p -value < 0.001). The analysis further demonstrates consistency in the direction and magnitude of relationships across economies and genders.
Liu et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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