Associations Among Peer Victimization, Social Anxiety and Children's Self-Reported Physical Activity

Abstract

Psychosocial difficulties, including peer victimization and anxiety, have been found to influence physical activity engagement among school-aged children. Understanding the mechanisms through which these factors may exert their influence is important to the design and implementation of health promotion programs and prevention programs for pediatric obesity. In this study, a community sample of 74 4th - 6th grade students completed measures of peer victimization, weight-related criticism, social anxiety, and physical activity. Indirect effects were found such that peer victimization and weight-related criticism were associated with social anxiety which, in turn, was associated with decreased participation in high intensity physical activity. Social anxiety as a mediator in these relationships was not supported. These findings underscore the importance of identifying potential barriers to participation in physical activity and highlight potential pathways through which these barriers operate.