Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41890940›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in psychology2026

Can physical exercise alleviate social anxiety in junior high school students by improving body image?

Sunxuan Xing, Yang Yang, Jingtao Wu, Yanhong Shao, Wanli Zang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Sunxuan XingSchool of Sports Training, Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, China.
Yang YangSchool of Sports Training, Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, China.
Jingtao WuSchool of Physical Education, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, China.
Yanhong ShaoXiangshui Teacher Development Center, Yancheng, China.
Wanli ZangPostgraduate School, Harbin Sport University, Harbin, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the dynamic relationships between physical exercise (PE), body image (BI), and social anxiety (SA) among Chinese junior high school students, as well as to analyze the mechanism through which PE may alleviate SA by improving BI. Methods: A total of 851 students (652 males, 391 females) from grades 7 and 8 across five secondary schools in Sichuan, Jiangsu, and Guangdong provinces were selected for this 12-month longitudinal study. Four waves of data were collected using validated questionnaires measuring PE, BI, and SA. The data were analyzed using a random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM). Results: The study revealed the following findings: (1) PE showed significant positive correlations with BI at all four time points ( Conclusion: This study elucidates the mediating mechanism through which PE alleviates SA by enhancing BI, providing scientific evidence for adolescent mental health interventions. Schools are advised to incorporate strategies in physical education curricula and activities that foster positive BI and social adaptation skills to promote psychological well-being.

Indexed as

body imagecross-lagged modellongitudinal studymental healthphysical exercisesocial anxiety

Identifiers

PMID41890940
PMCPMC13013369

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.