Exploring the relations between body dissatisfaction, rumination, physical activity, and restrained eating: a latent moderated structural equation approach.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have shown that body dissatisfaction is closely related to restrained eating, however, the specific mechanisms and conditions of body dissatisfaction need to be further explored. Therefore, this study aims to explore the mediating and moderating variables influencing the relations between body dissatisfaction and restrained eating, providing recommendations for the prevention of restrained eating among university students.

Methods: Participants comprised 1213 university students who completed the Negative Physical Self Scale, Ruminative Responses Scale, Restrained Eating Scale, and Physical Activity Scale. Data regarding their body measurements were also obtained. A Latent Moderated Structural Equation Approach was constructed to examine the mediating role of rumination and the moderating role of physical activity in the relations between body dissatisfaction and restrained eating.

Results: Body dissatisfaction was positively correlated with rumination (r = 0.19, p < 0.01), restrained eating was positively correlated with body dissatisfaction (r = 0.45, p < 0.01), and restrained eating was positively correlated with rumination (r = 0.25, p < 0.01). Path analysis of the mediation model and moderated mediation model using structural equation modeling showed that rumination explained 6.5% of the total relations between body dissatisfaction and restrained eating. Physical activity moderated the effect of body dissatisfaction on rumination.

Conclusions: It suggests that as physical activity increased, the relations between body dissatisfaction and rumination were strengthened. Therefore, it is advisable for university students to avoid placing excessive emphasis on using physical activity and restrictive eating to lose weight. Instead, efforts should focus on developing healthy exercise motivations and guiding adolescents toward positive self-perception.