The relationship between weight stigma and physical activity avoidance among college students: a chain mediation of body image and psychological resilience

Background Physical activity avoidance among college students is a public health issue related to their health and well-being. Factors such as weight stigma, body image, and psychological resilience are associated with physical activity avoidance behaviors and may interact in complex ways. Purpose With an emphasis on the mediating roles of body image and psychological resilience, this study, which is based on stress-coping theory, attempts to investigate the relationship between weight stigma and college students’ physical activity avoidance. Methods A random sampling approach collected 576 valid responses from various universities (47.40% male, 52.60% female). The Weight Self-Stigma Scale, Body Image State Scale, Connor-Davidson Psychological Resilience Scale, and Physical Activity Avoidance Tendency Scale were used for measurement. Data were analyzed using the chain mediation model (Model 6) in PROCESS 4.0 within SPSS 26.0. Results Physical activity avoidance was positively correlated with weight stigma ( β = 0.255, p < 0.001). Resilience and body image had a significant indirect effect as well [ β = 0.024, 95% CI (0.012, 0.039)], making up 6.43% of the overall effect. Conclusion Weight stigma relates to physical activity avoidance among college students, mediated by body image and resilience. The results identify cognitive and emotional pathways associated with social stressors and health behaviors among college students, offering a theoretical basis and intervention insights for promoting good health and well-being within university populations.