Predicting exercise confidence from body esteem among Filipino college students Enrolled in PathFit 1

Abstract

This study the predictive relationship between body esteem and exercise self-efficacy among Filipino college students, considering gender-specific psychological and cultural factors. A total of 475 students (317 males, 158 females; Mₐ₉ₑ = 18.92 ± 1.51 years) from a state university in Region III, Philippines, participated. Using a quantitative correlational design, data were collected via the Body Esteem Scale–Revised (BES-R) and the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed acceptable construct validity (CFI = 0.856–0.940; TLI = 0.837–0.925; RMSEA = 0.087–0.106) and strong reliability (CR = 0.84–0.92). Multiple Linear Regression analysis showed that body esteem significantly predicted exercise self-efficacy among both males (F(3,313) = 24.640, p < .001, Adjusted R² = .183) and females (F(3,154) = 10.075, p < .001, Adjusted R² = .148). For males, upper body strength was the only significant predictor (β = .439, t = 4.239, p < .001), while for females, weight concern was the strongest predictor (β = .439, t = 3.029, p = .003). Descriptive results indicated that males had higher exercise self-efficacy (M = 3.31 ± 0.75) than females (M = 2.79 ± 0.85), with significant gender differences across all domains (p < .001). These findings demonstrate that body esteem plays a key role in shaping confidence toward exercise, with distinct gender-based predictors. The study highlights the need for gender-sensitive interventions that promote positive body image and exercise confidence. Limitations include its cross-sectional design, reliance on self-reported data, and single-site sample. Future research should employ longitudinal or experimental designs with larger, more diverse populations to better understand the directionality of the relationship between body esteem and exercise self-efficacy.