Positive attitudes toward physical activity and eating disorders in university students: the moderating role of gender

Background: Eating disorders affect both male and female populations worldwide. Previous studies suggest that attitudes toward physical activity may play a key role in their development. Understanding this relationship is essential for designing effective prevention and treatment strategies. In this study, positive attitudes toward physical activity refer to motivational and affective dispositions, such as valuing, enjoying, and being willing to engage in physical activity. The study aimed to explore the effects of such attitudes on various subdimensions of eating disorders, as well as the moderating role of gender in these associations. Methods: University students from different regions of Turkiye participated in the study (n = 609; age M = 21.0, SD = 1.95). The gender distribution was 49.9% females and 50.1% males. The gender distribution was 49.9% females (n = 304) and 50.1% males (n = 305). Data were collected with the Physical Activity Attitude Scale for Children and Adolescents and the Eating Disorder Scale-Short Form (EDE-Q-13). SEM and Jamovi MedMod moderation tests were used to analyze the data. Results: Positive attitudes toward physical activity did not significantly predict eating restraint (beta=-0.0865, z=-1.94, p >.05) or shape/weight over-evaluation (beta=-0.0836, z=-1.87, p >.05). However, they were significantly and inversely associated with body dissatisfaction (beta = -0.1788, z = -3.87, p <.001), bingeing (beta = -0.3201, z = -6.75, p <.001), and purging (beta = -0.4591, z = -9.58, p <.001). Based on the positive and significant result of the PAPA * gender interaction (B = 0.387, p <.05), gender appears to play a moderating role in the associations between physical activity attitudes and eating disorder symptoms. Conclusions: Our results indicated that while positive attitudes toward physical activity did not significantly influence eating restraint, shape or weight overevaluation, they might have suppressive effects on body dissatisfaction, bingeing, and purging. Additionally, positive attitudes toward physical activity affected female and male participants differently. These findings may inform health promotion and physical activity interventions in university settings.