Body surveillance and physical activity: The parallel yet opposite mediating roles of internal and external shame

To address the inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between body surveillance and physical activity, this study employs experience sampling method to explore the parallel, yet opposite, mediating roles of internal and external body shame within them. Eight-four college students (mean age = 21.66 years, 78.6% female) completed the self-report questionnaires (Body Surveillance Scale, Internal and External Body Shame Scale, Body Imagery Shame Scale, and Physical Activity Rating Scale) over 21 consecutive days. The multilevel parallel mediation analysis revealed that body surveillance positively predicted internal body shame (estimate = 0.07, 95%CI [0.04, 0.11]), leading individuals to engage more in physical activity, but negatively predicted external body shame (estimate = - 0.08, 95%CI [-0.13, - 0.04]), thus hindering physical activity. This study elucidates why past research has yielded incongruous findings regarding the correlation between body surveillance and physical activity and advances strategic sports planning with body shame regulation at a practical level.