Physical Activity, Social Media Use, Anxiety, Interoception, and Body Image: A Cross-Sectional Study of Rural Adolescents

Purpose This investigation aimed to explore relationships among health behaviors, psychological factors, and body image in rural adolescents. Design A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Setting: The study took place in a rural school in the Midwest region of the United States. Subjects Participants (n = 45) were rural adolescents (6th-9th grade). Measures Physical activity was assessed using the CAPL-2 and IPAQ, social media usage and addiction were evaluated through daily screen time and the BSMAS, body image was measured using the BSQ and BAS-2, anxiety levels were assessed with the GAD-7, and interoceptive abilities were measured by the MAIA-Y. These measures are validated for use in adolescent populations. Analysis Linear regression models examined relationships between physical activity, social media usage, anxiety, body image, and interoceptive abilities. Effect sizes for significant predictors were determined using Cohen’s d. Results Novel relationships were identified among rural adolescents, including a positive association between body appreciation and physical literacy (d = 0.322, P = 0.002), a negative association between body appreciation and social media addiction (d = 0.866, P < 0.001), and a positive association between social media addiction and anxiety levels (d = 0.341, P < 0.001). Conclusion Social media impacts the well-being of rural adolescents. Promoting physical literacy and social media literacy may mitigate negative effects and should be prioritized in future interventions.