The relationship between physical activity self-worth and body appreciation among physically active women: the mediating role of psychological resilience

Background Physical activity self-worth reflects the value women attribute to themselves through being physically active and has been associated with more positive body-related outcomes. Psychological resilience may help explain this link by supporting adaptive coping and more constructive self-perceptions. In this study, the mediating role of psychological resilience in the relationship between physical activity self-worth and body appreciation was examined among physically active women. Method A quantitative correlational design was used with 640 physically active women. In the study, women's physical activity self-worth, body appreciation, and psychological resilience were assessed using the Women's Physical Activity Self-Worth Scale, the Body Appreciation Scale, and the Brief Resilience Scale. Mediation was tested with Hayes' PROCESS macro (Model 4) using 5,000 bootstrap resamples, and direct, total, and indirect effects were evaluated via bootstrap confidence intervals. Results Physical activity self-worth significantly predicted psychological resilience ( b = 0.333; SE = 0.079; p < 0.001), and psychological resilience significantly predicted body appreciation ( b = 0.309; SE = 0.037; p < 0.001). Physical activity self-worth had a significant total effect on body appreciation ( b = 0.688; SE = 0.088; p < 0.001) and remained significant after including psychological resilience (direct effect: b = 0.585; SE = 0.088; p < 0.001). Additionally, Bootstrap analyses indicated a significant indirect effect via psychological resilience [a * b = 0.103; 95% CI (0.053, 0.158)]. Conclusion Psychological resilience mediates the association between physical activity self-worth and body appreciation in physically active women, indicating that resilience-related processes are relevant for understanding and supporting positive body-related evaluations.