ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Psychol.
Sec. Health Psychology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1681877
Self-objectification and commentary on physical appearance predict exercise dependence in young Chinese males: A study from a cognitive-behavioral perspective
Provisionally accepted
- 1Guangzhou College of Technology and Business, Foshan, China
- 2Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
- 3Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- 4Tajen University, Taiwan, China
- 5Child Development Researcher Institute, Beijing, China
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Exercise dependence has emerged as a growing concern in China alongside the rapid expansion of fitness culture, yet little is known about its psychological mechanisms in men. Guided by Cash's cognitive-behavioral model, this study examined whether self-objectification and appearance-related commentary predict exercise dependence through the sequential mediating roles of social physique anxiety and muscle dysmorphia. Data were collected in a four-wave survey over 20 weeks from 354 gym members across 12 clubs in three major Chinese cities. Participants were well-educated male strength-training enthusiasts, had stable incomes, and reported regular training habits, aged 24-45 years. Structural equation modeling supported the hypothesized model: both self-objectification(B = 0.08, p < 0.05, 95% CI [0.07, 0.29]) and appearance commentary(B = 0.21, p < 0.05, 95% CI [0.09, 0.34]) predicted exercise dependence indirectly through social physique anxiety and muscle dysmorphia. These mediation effects were also significant across all 7 dimensions of exercise dependence(tolerance, withdrawal, intention Effects, lack of control, time, continuance, reduction in other activities). Findings highlight that evaluative cognitions and appearance-related commentary exacerbate emotional vulnerabilities, which in turn fuel maladaptive exercise behaviors. The study advances theory by extending the cognitive-behavioral model to Chinese men and underscores the importance of addressing both social feedback and emotional regulation in prevention and intervention efforts.
Keywords: Self-objectification, Commentary on Physical Appearance, social physique anxiety, Muscle dysmorphia, exercise dependence
Received: 08 Aug 2025; Accepted: 13 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Ling, Zou, 苏, Hsu, Gu and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: 荣海 苏, sronghai@163.com
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