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The Effects of Body Image and Physical Fitness on Academic Performance of Chinese Adolescent: A Mediating Role of Mental Health

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Title: The Effects of Body Image and Physical Fitness on Academic Performance of Chinese Adolescent: A Mediating Role of Mental Health
Language: English
Authors: Hong He, Yiyan Zhu, Jun Jiao, Siyuan Liu (ORCID 0000-0002-0255-8847)
Source: Youth & Society. 2026 58(3):391-413.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
Elementary Education
Grade 7
Grade 9
High Schools
Descriptors: Physical Fitness, Self Concept, Human Body, Academic Achievement, Mental Health, Adolescents, Predictor Variables, Gender Differences, Foreign Countries, Junior High School Students, Grade 7, Grade 9
Geographic Terms: China
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
DOI: 10.1177/0044118X251348944
ISSN: 0044-118X
1552-8499
Abstract: This study examined the association between body image, physical fitness, and academic performance and investigated the roles of mental health and self-perception bias. Data were obtained from the China Education Panel Survey, with a sample of 7,087 adolescents (3,517 boys, 3,570 girls). Results indicated that body image and physical fitness predicted academic performance. Mental health mediated the relationship between body image and academic performance but not the link between physical fitness and academic performance. Body image directly affected boys' academic performance and indirectly affected girls' academic performance through mental health. The mediating effects of mental health were stronger for adolescents with self-perception bias. The study highlights the need for more interventions that improve physical fitness and foster healthy body image perceptions among adolescents to enhance their academic performance.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1500791
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The Effects of Body Image and Physical Fitness on Academic Performance of Chinese Adolescent: A Mediating Role of Mental Health
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  Label: Language
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  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hong+He%22">Hong He</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yiyan+Zhu%22">Yiyan Zhu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jun+Jiao%22">Jun Jiao</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Siyuan+Liu%22">Siyuan Liu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0255-8847">0000-0002-0255-8847</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Youth+%26+Society%22"><i>Youth & Society</i></searchLink>. 2026 58(3):391-413.
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  Label: Availability
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
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  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 23
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
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  Label: Document Type
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+9%22">Grade 9</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+Fitness%22">Physical Fitness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Concept%22">Self Concept</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+Body%22">Human Body</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Achievement%22">Academic Achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+Health%22">Mental Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescents%22">Adolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predictor+Variables%22">Predictor Variables</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Differences%22">Gender Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Junior+High+School+Students%22">Junior High School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+7%22">Grade 7</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+9%22">Grade 9</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
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  Label: Assessment and Survey Identifiers
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Center+for+Epidemiologic+Studies+Depression+Scale%22">Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/0044118X251348944
– Name: ISSN
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  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0044-118X<br />1552-8499
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study examined the association between body image, physical fitness, and academic performance and investigated the roles of mental health and self-perception bias. Data were obtained from the China Education Panel Survey, with a sample of 7,087 adolescents (3,517 boys, 3,570 girls). Results indicated that body image and physical fitness predicted academic performance. Mental health mediated the relationship between body image and academic performance but not the link between physical fitness and academic performance. Body image directly affected boys' academic performance and indirectly affected girls' academic performance through mental health. The mediating effects of mental health were stronger for adolescents with self-perception bias. The study highlights the need for more interventions that improve physical fitness and foster healthy body image perceptions among adolescents to enhance their academic performance.
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  Label: Abstractor
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  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1500791
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/0044118X251348944
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 23
        StartPage: 391
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Physical Fitness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Concept
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human Body
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Achievement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental Health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adolescents
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Predictor Variables
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Junior High School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 7
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 9
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The Effects of Body Image and Physical Fitness on Academic Performance of Chinese Adolescent: A Mediating Role of Mental Health
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          Name:
            NameFull: Hong He
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            NameFull: Yiyan Zhu
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            NameFull: Jun Jiao
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            NameFull: Siyuan Liu
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              Y: 2026
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              Value: 1552-8499
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            – Type: volume
              Value: 58
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
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            – TitleFull: Youth & Society
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