@Article{ijmhp.2026.082302,
AUTHOR = {Youngho Kim, Dojin An},
TITLE = {Exercise Imagery as a Health-Promoting Cognitive Strategy: Links to Physical Activity and Mental and Physical Health-Related Quality of Life},
JOURNAL = {International Journal of Mental Health Promotion},
VOLUME = {},
YEAR = {},
NUMBER = {},
PAGES = {{pages}},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/IJMHP/online/detail/27574},
ISSN = {2049-8543},
ABSTRACT = {<b>Background:</b> Physical activity is an important contributor to health-related quality of life, while exercise imagery may serve as a cognitive strategy that supports greater engagement in physical activity. <b>Objectives:</b> This study investigated how exercise imagery, physical activity, and the physical and mental components of health-related quality of life are structurally associated among community-dwelling adults. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 571 adults living in Nowon-gu, a district in northern Seoul, South Korea, participated in this study. Exercise imagery was measured using the Korean version of the Exercise Imagery Scale. Physical activity was assessed with metabolic equivalent task scores calculated from the Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire. Health-related quality of life was evaluated using items from the Korean Health Survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling to examine the proposed relationships among exercise imagery, physical activity, and the physical and mental dimensions of health-related quality of life. To explore moderation by sex, multi-group SEM was subsequently conducted. <b>Results:</b> Exercise imagery significantly predicted physical activity (<i>β</i> = 0.36, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), physical health-related quality of life (<i>β</i> = 0.42, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and mental health-related quality of life (<i>β</i> = 0.46, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Physical activity significantly predicted physical health-related quality of life (<i>β</i> = 0.27, <i>p</i> = 0.002), but not mental health-related quality of life (<i>β</i> = 0.11, <i>p</i> = 0.106). The indirect effect of exercise imagery on physical health-related quality of life through physical activity was significant (<i>β</i> = 0.10, 95% CI [0.04, 0.16]). The model showed an overall acceptable fit based on multiple indices (χ<sup>2</sup>/df = 3.37, CFI = 0.93, GFI = 0.96, SRMR = 0.06, RMSEA = 0.06), and multi-group SEM supported overall invariance across sex. <b>Conclusions:</b> These outcomes underscore the value of exercise imagery as an effective cognitive strategy to boost physical activity participation and promote health-related quality of life in adult populations. Notably, the data indicates that the sheer volume of physical activity is insufficient for explaining variances in mental health-related quality of life. This highlights the critical requirement to integrate cognitive and emotional dimensions into current explanatory models.},
DOI = {10.32604/ijmhp.2026.082302}
}