title: A re-examination of the benefits of exercise for state body satisfaction: consideration of individual difference factors.
abstract: Although the link between exercise and body image is well documented, the considerable inter-individual variability in this relationship has been largely ignored. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to test the contributions of key body image and exercise-related moderators (age, body mass index (BMI), exercise frequency, trait body dissatisfaction, internalisation of appearance standards, and body surveillance tendencies) in predicting variability in the exercise-body satisfaction relationship. Thirty-seven undergraduate women completed a questionnaire containing the above trait-based measures and then carried a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) for a 7-day period. Participants were instructed to use the PDA to self-report their state body satisfaction immediately following an exercise session and also when the PDA signalled at each of six random intervals throughout the day. Multilevel modelling revealed a bi-directional relationship between exercise and state body satisfaction. Moreover, post-exercise increases in state body satisfaction were strongest for individuals who were younger and engaged in regular exercise, and weakest for individuals with high BMI and/or the tendency to compare their appearance with others. These findings highlight potential limits on the efficacy of exercise-based therapy for body image disturbances.
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Psychology, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Melbourne, 3125 Australia. matthew.fuller-tyszkiewicz@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skouteris
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCabe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult