Body appreciation in young adults: exploring the interplay between of spiritual well-being, gratitude, BMI, and physical activity

Abstract

In recent years, a novel area of interest that emerged in research on mental health is body appreciation, broadly understood as a positive and respectful attitude towards one’s body. This study aims to investigate whether gratitude and body mass index mediate the relationship between spiritual well-being and body appreciation among young adults. The results revealed that spiritual well-being significantly enhanced gratitude and body appreciation. Gratitude was found to positively affect body appreciation and amplify the impact of spiritual well-being on body appreciation. The positive effect of spiritual well-being on gratitude was found to be stronger among individuals with higher physical activity levels.