Longitudinal Relationships Between Physical Activity, Body Appreciation, and Proactive Coping in College Students: A Cross-lagged Panel Model

Previous studies have found a significant relationship between physical activity and proactive coping, but the directionality of the relationship and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study examined the longitudinal relationships between physical activity, proactive coping, and body appreciation. A total of 376 college students (265 males, 111 females; M = 22.55, SD = 2.26) were recruited for this three-wave survey. The results of cross-lagged panel models showed that physical activity positively predicted proactive coping in the future and that body appreciation had a positive reciprocal relationship with physical activity and proactive coping, respectively. However, the effect of proactive coping on physical activity was not significant. These findings provide support for helping adults cope with threats such as stress by recognizing the key role of physical activity.