Social physique anxiety is characterized by feelings of distress experienced when individuals believe they are negatively evaluated on their physique. It could be a risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms. In a sample of 1,724 undergraduate students (average age = 19.96 ± 1.29 years, 59.51% women), this study tested a model exploring whether psychological resilience could mediate the association between social physique anxiety and depressive symptoms, and examined gender’s moderating role in the tested model. Results indicated that social physique anxiety was positively associated with depressive symptoms ( r = .359, p < .001) and negatively associated with psychological resilience ( r = –.355, p < .001). Psychological resilience was inversely related to depressive symptoms ( r = –.508, p < .001). Mediation analysis revealed a positive indirect effect of social physique anxiety on depressive symptoms through psychological resilience (indirect effect = 0.155, SE = 0.014, 95% CI 0.128, 0.182). Furthermore, a first stage conditional effect of gender was observed that social physique anxiety had a stronger negative effect on psychological resilience in men than in women (moderated mediation index = −0.057, SE = 0.029, 95% CI = −0.115, −0.001. This study provides insight into the relationships among social physique anxiety, psychological resilience, and depressive symptoms. It holds promise to inform the development of treatment aiming to reduce depressive symptoms in individuals at risk of social physique anxiety.
Tao Zhong (Thu,) studied this question.