A Latent Profile Analysis of Coping, Psychological Inflexibility, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adult Regular Exercisers

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Background: Regular physical activity is generally associated with better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and lower psychological distress, yet regular exercisers may differ in how coping strategies, psychological inflexibility, and cognitive fusion relate to perceived health and functioning. This study aimed to identify latent profiles of adult regular exercisers based on coping, psychological inflexibility, cognitive fusion, HRQoL, psychological distress, age, body mass index (BMI), and years of regular physical activity. Methods: A total of 591 regular exercisers (358 males, 60.6%; 233 females, 39.4%; mean age = 32.46 ± 13.72 years) completed the COPE-NVI-25, SF-36, GHQ-12, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II (AAQ-II), and Italian Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (I-CFQ). Results: Latent profile analysis was performed using age, BMI, years of physical activity, five coping subscales, eight SF-36 domains, three GHQ-12 domains, and AAQ-II and I-CFQ scores. A three-profile solution was retained as the preferred substantive solution based on the joint consideration of statistical fit, class representation, entropy (0.87), parsimony, and interpretability. Class 1 (35.5%) showed high avoidance, poorer HRQoL, and higher distress; Class 2 (43.0%) showed near-average coping and better HRQoL; Class 3 (21.5%), comprising older, longer-term exercisers, showed the most adaptive coping and psychological flexibility profile alongside favorable HRQoL. Conclusions: These findings support person-centered approaches in sport and exercise psychology.