{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T05:02:01Z","timestamp":1784869321620,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":65,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784851200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Early dropout remains a major challenge in exercise adherence. Most existing studies adopt variable-centered approaches that overlook individual heterogeneity in psychological resources. This study aimed to identify distinct latent profiles of exercise participants and examine how the relationships between appearance anxiety, social support, and motivational resources with exercise persistence differ across profiles.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 625 Chinese adults aged 18\u201345 who exercised at least once per week. Integrating Objectified Body Consciousness Theory, Social Cognitive Theory, and Self-Determination Theory, we proposed a Pressure-Support-Motivation (PSM) framework. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed using six indicators: appearance anxiety, social support, autonomous motivation, self-efficacy, body esteem, and hedonic motivation. Multi-group structural equation modeling (SEM) was subsequently used to compare path coefficients across profiles.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>LPA identified four distinct profiles: Intrinsically Driven (28.3%), Anxiety-Transformed (24.2%), Socially Dependent (26.1%), and Motivation-Deficient (21.4%). Exercise persistence differed significantly across profiles, with the Intrinsically Driven group showing the highest levels and the Motivation-Deficient group the lowest. Multi-group SEM revealed differentiated mechanisms: body esteem and hedonic motivation showed stronger associations with persistence in the Intrinsically Driven profile; self-efficacy and autonomous motivation were most strongly linked in the Anxiety-Transformed profile, where appearance anxiety was positively associated with persistence; social support had the strongest direct association with persistence in the Socially Dependent profile; and most paths were weak or non-significant in the Motivation-Deficient profile.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study demonstrates substantial heterogeneity in the psychological drivers of exercise persistence. The findings provide preliminary profile-based evidence for the PSM framework and highlight the conditional role of appearance anxiety. Practically, the results support the development of tailored, profile-specific interventions and the design of adaptive digital health tools to improve long-term exercise adherence.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1890434","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T04:23:19Z","timestamp":1784866999000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Heterogeneity among exercise participants: latent profile analysis and differential persistence pathways based on the pressure-support-motivation (PSM) framework"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Aojie","family":"Feng","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Art, Soochow University","place":["Suzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Liwen","family":"Fan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Art, Soochow University","place":["Suzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuxuan","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Art, Soochow University","place":["Suzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhifeng","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Art, Soochow University","place":["Suzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.copsyc.2015.09.005","article-title":"Social media and body image concerns: current research and future directions","volume":"9","author":"Fardouly","year":"2016","journal-title":"Curr Opin Psychol"},{"key":"ref2","volume-title":"WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref3","volume-title":"Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control","author":"Bandura","year":"1997"},{"key":"ref4","volume-title":"Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community","author":"Putnam","year":"2001"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003100041","volume-title":"Body Image: Understanding Body Dissatisfaction in Men, Women and Children","author":"Grogan","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"310","DOI":"10.1037\/0033-2909.98.2.310","article-title":"Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis","volume":"98","author":"Cohen","year":"1985","journal-title":"Psychol Bull"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"236","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1745-6924.2009.01122.x","article-title":"Understanding the links between social support and physical health: a life-span perspective with emphasis on the separability of perceived and received support","volume":"4","author":"Uchino","year":"2009","journal-title":"Perspect Psychol Sci"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"173","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00108.x","article-title":"Objectification theory: toward understanding women\u2019s lived experiences and mental health risks","volume":"21","author":"Fredrickson","year":"1997","journal-title":"Psychol Women Q"},{"key":"ref9","first-page":"189","volume-title":"Health Behavior and Health Education: Theory, Research, and Practice","author":"Heaney","year":"2008"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.1037\/0003-066X.55.1.68","article-title":"Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being","volume":"55","author":"Ryan","year":"2000","journal-title":"Am Psychol"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"291","DOI":"10.1017\/S095457949700206X","article-title":"A person-oriented approach in research on developmental psychopathology","volume":"9","author":"Bergman","year":"1997","journal-title":"Dev Psychopathol"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"882","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1530-0277.2000.tb02070.x","article-title":"Integrating person-centered and variable-centered analyses: growth mixture modeling with latent trajectory classes","volume":"24","author":"Muth\u00e9n","year":"2000","journal-title":"Alcohol Clin Exp Res"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-6494.2010.00678.x","article-title":"The importance of importance in the physical self: support for the theoretically appealing but empirically elusive model of James","volume":"79","author":"Lindwall","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Pers"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1111\/jopy.12047","article-title":"When the going gets tough: the \u201cwhy\u201d of goal striving matters","volume":"82","author":"Ntoumanis","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Pers"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/S1740-1445(03)00011-1","article-title":"Body image: past, present, and future","volume":"1","author":"Cash","year":"2004","journal-title":"Body Image"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bodyim.2014.12.002","article-title":"Social comparisons on social media: the impact of Facebook on young women\u2019s body image concerns and mood","volume":"13","author":"Fardouly","year":"2015","journal-title":"Body Image"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1123\/jsep.16.1.70","article-title":"Social physique anxiety, reasons for exercise, and attitudes toward exercise settings","volume":"16","author":"Crawford","year":"1994","journal-title":"J Sport Exerc Psychol"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2011.12.005","article-title":"Appearance vs. health motives for exercise and for weight loss","volume":"13","author":"Vartanian","year":"2012","journal-title":"Psychol Sport Exerc"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bodyim.2015.06.003","article-title":"\u201cExercise to be fit, not skinny\u201d: the effect of fitspiration imagery on women\u2019s body image","volume":"15","author":"Tiggemann","year":"2015","journal-title":"Body Image"},{"key":"ref20","volume-title":"Stress, Appraisal, and Coping","author":"Lazarus","year":"1984"},{"key":"ref21","volume-title":"Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory","author":"Bandura","year":"1985"},{"key":"ref22","volume-title":"Work Stress and Social Support","author":"House","year":"1981"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4899-2271-7","volume-title":"Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior","author":"Deci","year":"1985"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1207\/S15327965PLI1104_01","article-title":"The \u201cwhat\u201d and \u201cwhy\u201d of goal pursuits: human needs and the self-determination of behavior","volume":"11","author":"Deci","year":"2000","journal-title":"Psychol Inq"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1186\/1479-5868-9-78","article-title":"Exercise, physical activity, and self-determination theory: a systematic review","volume":"9","author":"Teixeira","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1751-9861.2006.tb00021.x","article-title":"\u201cIt\u2019s who I am\u2026really!\u201d The importance of integrated regulation in exercise contexts","volume":"11","author":"Wilson","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Appl Biobehav Res"},{"key":"ref27","first-page":"85","article-title":"Self-efficacy determinants and consequences of physical activity","volume":"28","author":"McAuley","year":"2000","journal-title":"Exerc Sport Sci Rev"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"173","DOI":"10.1207\/s15327752jpa4802_12","article-title":"The body esteem scale: multidimensional structure and sex differences in a college population","volume":"48","author":"Franzoi","year":"1984","journal-title":"J Pers Assess"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s11199-017-0776-5","article-title":"Revising the body esteem scale with a U.S. college student sample: evaluation, validation, and uses for the BES-R","volume":"78","author":"Frost","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sex Roles"},{"key":"ref30","first-page":"295","volume-title":"The Oxford Handbook of Exercise Psychology","author":"Ekkekakis","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1007\/s12662-017-0477-9","article-title":"Affective\u2013reflective theory of physical inactivity and exercise","volume":"48","author":"Brand","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ger J Exerc Sport Res"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"535","DOI":"10.1080\/10705510701575396","article-title":"Deciding on the number of classes in latent class analysis and growth mixture modeling: a Monte Carlo simulation study","volume":"14","author":"Nylund","year":"2007","journal-title":"Struct Equ Model"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1037\/1082-989X.10.1.21","article-title":"Investigating population heterogeneity with factor mixture models","volume":"10","author":"Lubke","year":"2005","journal-title":"Psychol Methods"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.1177\/135910457000100301","article-title":"Back-translation for cross-cultural research","volume":"1","author":"Brislin","year":"1970","journal-title":"J Cross-Cult Psychol"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.2307\/3151312","article-title":"Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error","volume":"18","author":"Fornell","year":"1981","journal-title":"J Mark Res"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1093\/pan\/mph001","article-title":"Estimating latent structure models with categorical variables: one-step versus three-step estimators","volume":"12","author":"Bolck","year":"2004","journal-title":"Polit Anal"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"464","DOI":"10.1080\/10705510701301834","article-title":"Sensitivity of goodness of fit indexes to lack of measurement invariance","volume":"14","author":"Chen","year":"2007","journal-title":"Struct Equ Model"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1521\/978.14625\/28806","volume-title":"Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness","author":"Ryan","year":"2017"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1093\/med:psych\/9780199356942.003.0026","volume-title":"The ITC International Handbook of Testing and Assessment","author":"Byrne","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1177\/109442810031002","article-title":"A review and synthesis of the measurement invariance literature: suggestions, practices, and recommendations for organizational research","volume":"3","author":"Vandenberg","year":"2000","journal-title":"Organ Res Methods"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"285","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-025-21350-1","article-title":"The mediating effect of self-efficacy and physical activity with the moderating effect of social support on the relationship between negative body image and depression among Chinese college students: a cross-sectional study","volume":"25","author":"Yuan","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"838","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2016.00838","article-title":"Dropping out or keeping up? Early-dropouts, late-dropouts, and maintainers differ in their automatic evaluations of exercise already before a 14-week exercise course","volume":"7","author":"Antoniewicz","year":"2016","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.1037\/0278-6133.19.Suppl1.32","article-title":"Physical activity behavior change: issues in adoption and maintenance","volume":"19","author":"Marcus","year":"2000","journal-title":"Health Psychol"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.5432\/ijshs.2.89","article-title":"Motivational profiles and stages of exercise behavior change","volume":"2","author":"Matsumoto","year":"2004","journal-title":"Inter J Sport Health Sci"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"706","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732314528811","article-title":"Physical activity adoption to adherence, lapse, and dropout: a self-determination theory perspective","volume":"24","author":"Kinnafick","year":"2014","journal-title":"Qual Health Res"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"688","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-0663.100.3.688","article-title":"Students\u2019 motivational profiles and achievement outcomes in physical education: a self-determination perspective","volume":"100","author":"Boich\u00e9","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Educ Psychol"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"439","DOI":"10.1080\/10705510903008220","article-title":"Exploratory structural equation modeling, integrating CFA and EFA: application to students\u2019 evaluations of university teaching","volume":"16","author":"Marsh","year":"2009","journal-title":"Struct Equ Model"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"745","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2014.00745","article-title":"Testing strong factorial invariance using three-level structural equation modeling","volume":"5","author":"Jak","year":"2014","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"41652","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-25566-4","article-title":"Personalized fitness recommendations using machine learning for optimized national health strategy","volume":"15","author":"Chen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1932","DOI":"10.3390\/life15121932","article-title":"Inter-individual heterogeneity in aerobic training adaptations: systematic review of the evidence base for personalized exercise prescription","volume":"15","author":"Xiao","year":"2025","journal-title":"Life"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70599","DOI":"10.2196\/70599","article-title":"Optimizing and testing an individualized and adaptive physical activity digital health intervention: protocol for a control optimization trial embedded within a randomized controlled trial","volume":"14","author":"Kim","year":"2025","journal-title":"JMIR Res Protoc"},{"key":"ref52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"283","DOI":"10.1348\/135910702760213689","article-title":"The influence of autonomous and controlling motives on physical activity intentions within the theory of planned behaviour","volume":"7","author":"Hagger","year":"2002","journal-title":"Br J Health Psychol"},{"key":"ref53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"393","DOI":"10.1080\/02640410500131670","article-title":"The role of self-determined motivation in the understanding of exercise-related behaviours, cognitions and physical self-evaluations","volume":"24","author":"Th\u00f8gersen-Ntoumani","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Sports Sci"},{"key":"ref54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"296","DOI":"10.1111\/bjhp.12032","article-title":"How big is the physical activity intention-behaviour gap? A meta-analysis using the action control framework","volume":"18","author":"Rhodes","year":"2013","journal-title":"Br J Health Psychol"},{"key":"ref55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1093\/abm\/kaab044","article-title":"What predicts the physical activity intention\u2013behavior gap? A systematic review","volume":"56","author":"Rhodes","year":"2022","journal-title":"Ann Behav Med"},{"key":"ref56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101619","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2019.101619","article-title":"Multidimensional motivation for exercise: a latent profile and transition analysis","volume":"47","author":"Emm-Collison","year":"2020","journal-title":"Psychol Sport Exerc"},{"key":"ref57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"726","DOI":"10.1037\/ccp0000501","article-title":"Self-determination theory interventions for health behavior change: Meta-analysis and meta-analytic structural equation modeling of randomized controlled trials","volume":"88","author":"Sheeran","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Consult Clin Psychol"},{"key":"ref58","volume-title":"Concepts of Fitness and Wellness: A Comprehensive Lifestyle Approach","author":"Corbin","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"825","DOI":"10.1016\/0091-7435(87)90022-3","article-title":"The development of scales to measure social support for diet and exercise behaviors","volume":"16","author":"Sallis","year":"1987","journal-title":"Prev Med"},{"key":"ref60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"191","DOI":"10.1123\/jsep.26.2.191","article-title":"A modification to the behavioural regulation in exercise questionnaire to include an assessment of amotivation","volume":"26","author":"Markland","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Sport Exerc Psychol"},{"key":"ref61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00844757","article-title":"Self-efficacy and the maintenance of exercise participation in older adults","volume":"16","author":"McAuley","year":"1993","journal-title":"J Behav Med"},{"key":"ref62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1123\/jsep.13.1.50","article-title":"Physical activity enjoyment scale: two validation studies","volume":"13","author":"Kendzierski","year":"1991","journal-title":"J Sport Exerc Psychol"},{"key":"ref63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1913","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4419-1005-9_215","volume-title":"Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine","author":"Folkman","year":"2013"},{"key":"ref64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bodyim.2014.02.004","article-title":"The effects of aerobic- versus strength-training on body image among young women with pre-existing body image concerns","volume":"11","author":"Martin Ginis","year":"2014","journal-title":"Body Image"},{"key":"ref65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"533","DOI":"10.1177\/10901981231216735","article-title":"Social support and physical activity in college and university students: a meta-analysis","volume":"51","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Health Educ Behav"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1890434\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T04:23:23Z","timestamp":1784867003000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1890434\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]]},"references-count":65,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1890434"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1890434","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]]},"article-number":"1890434"}}