@Article{jpa.2026.069347,
AUTHOR = {Huan Song, Yuan Zhao, Chenglin He},
TITLE = {BMI and social avoidance: The mediating roles of body dissatisfaction and self-esteem},
JOURNAL = {Journal of Psychology in Africa},
VOLUME = {36},
YEAR = {2026},
NUMBER = {2},
PAGES = {249--255},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/jpa/v36n2/67167},
ISSN = {1815-5626},
ABSTRACT = {This study aimed to explore the mediating roles of body dissatisfaction and self-esteem on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and among female college students. Using a cross-sectional study design, 669 Chinese female college students completed the Body Mass Index, the Body Image States Scale, the Self-Esteem Scale, and the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale. The results showed that body dissatisfaction partially mediated the relationship between BMI and social avoidance. Additionally, body dissatisfaction and self-esteem together formed a serial mediation pathway between BMI and social avoidance. In other words, BMI shows a direct association with social avoidance among female college students, as well as indirect associations through the simple mediation of body dissatisfaction and the serial mediation of body dissatisfaction and self-esteem. Findings suggest that increased body satisfaction and self-esteem can reduce social avoidance among female college students.},
DOI = {10.32604/jpa.2026.069347}
}