The Influence of Sports Participation on Body Image, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Esteem in College Students

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the relationship between body image, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and sports participation by gender, grade, and specialty and then to provide a reference for promoting participation in sports and physical activities in college students. METHODS: Using stratified random sampling, undergraduate students in western China were selected as participants. The data obtained in this study were processed by SPSS 19.0 and AMOS 21.0 statistical software. RESULTS: Body image was significantly positively correlated with self-efficacy, self-esteem, and sports participation. Self-efficacy was significantly positively correlated with self-esteem and sports participation. Self-esteem was significantly positively correlated with sports participation. Body image had a direct effect on sports participation, with an effect value of 0.124. Furthermore, the mediating effects of self-efficacy (0.079) and self-esteem (0.108) were significant in the relationship between body image and sports participation. Meanwhile, the chain mediating role of self-efficacy–self-esteem was also obvious (0.035). CONCLUSION: Body image, self-efficacy, and self-esteem had significant influence on sports participation in college students. At the same time, the mediating effect of self-efficacy, self-esteem, and self-efficacy–self-esteem on body image and sports participation were established, and self-esteem was the key factor to sports participation.