Links between religiously-focused exercise and body shape preoccupation among young adults

This quasi-experimental study examined whether engaging in physical exercise integrated with a Christian religious focus would result in decreased body shape preoccupation and improved mental and emotional health. Data were collected at the beginning and end of an eight-week period from female and m...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Krumrei-Mancuso, Elizabeth J. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Taylor & Francis 2016
In: Mental health, religion & culture
Year: 2016, Volume: 19, Issue: 10, Pages: 1069-1085
Further subjects:B Spirituality
B Body shape preoccupation
B Exercise
B Body Image
B Religion
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:This quasi-experimental study examined whether engaging in physical exercise integrated with a Christian religious focus would result in decreased body shape preoccupation and improved mental and emotional health. Data were collected at the beginning and end of an eight-week period from female and male college students in three conditions: (1) group exercise sessions integrating an explicit religious focus, (2) standard group exercise, and (3) a control condition without activities. The religious exercise group decreased in body shape preoccupation to a greater extent than the control group, but the groups did not differ in other psychological symptoms or affect. This offers an initial indication that integrating a religious focus with exercise may potentially offer a unique method for addressing body shape preoccupation that is not accounted for by improvements in mental health or affect. If confirmed through additional research, infusing a religious focus into exercise regimens might inspire a practical, inexpensive method of targeting body shape dissatisfaction among young adults.
ISSN:1469-9737
Contains:Enthalten in: Mental health, religion & culture
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/13674676.2017.1313208