Objective: Social physique anxiety (SPA) is characterized by concerns of evaluation focused on one's physical appearance. Past work suggests factors such as gender, body mass index (BMI), and exercise habits uniquely contribute to SPA. However, no study has examined the interactions between these three variables. The current study sought to…

The differences in strength development processes and maximum strength levels between cisgender men and women -- i.e. the 'strength gap' -- are considerably fraught topics, with significant implications for our broader understandings of sex and gender. The polarization of exercise science and sociocultural research about the relationships between…

Objective: To investigate exercise stages of change (SOC) and physical barriers among undergraduates at an Historically Black University (HBCU) and quantify their relationship. Participants: A total of 326 undergraduate HBCU students; 198 were females (body mass index (BMI) range 16.5-87.9; M = 26.5 ± 6.8) and 127 were males (BMI range 18.0-49.3;…

Background: Data missingness can bias interpretation and outcomes resulting from data use. We describe data missingness in the longest-standing US-based youth fitness surveillance system (2006/07-2019/20). Methods: This observational study uses the New York City FITNESSGRAM (NYCFG) database from 1,983,629 unique 4th-12th grade students (9,147,873…

Objective: To assess the role of sexual orientation and gender identity in the relationship between physical activity (PA), stress and resilience. Participants: A nationally-representative sample of students (n = 91,718) from United States postsecondary institutions. Methods: Students reported aerobic and strength training (ST) behaviors, stress,…

Purpose: This study aimed to examine how physical education (PE) students engage with fitness content on TikTok. Methods: The evaluation involved 597 students enrolled in a PE 1 course across three campuses of a prominent university. Results: Findings show that students primarily watch TikTok videos for entertainment, with male students also…

Objective: This study examines associations between social networks developed through intramural sports and physical activity (PA), sense of community, and retention. Participants: College students participating in intramural sports at a large public university in the Southern United States (n = 250). Methods: Students self-reported PA, sense of…

College students' well-being and mental health have been substantial concerns since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and these issues have only become more pronounced in recent years. In the context of notable gender disparities in these outcomes, it is surprising that few studies to date have examined gendered patterns in how college students'…