The Impact of Gender, Sexuality, and Self-Worth on Gym Anxiety and Avoidance

Many undergraduate college students engage in minimal exercise, preventing their enjoyment of the mental and physical benefits of exercise. This study examined the role of gender identity, sexuality, and self-worth contingencies in promoting gym anxiety, and how these psychological processes may impact people’s gym behavior and intentions. 601 undergraduate students responded to our survey (57.9% cisgender women, 71.5% white, 52.2% heterosexual). Women and LGBTQ+ respondents reported higher levels of both appearance and other’s approval-related gym anxiety, as well as lower levels of gym attendance, gym intentions, and strength-training participation compared to men and heterosexual/cisgender respondents. We found evidence of marginal significance to suggest that being contingent on other people’s approval is associated with stronger gym intentions and more strength-training participation, as long as gym anxiety related to other people’s approval is low. Through exploratory three-way interaction effect tests, we find evidence to suggest that being contingent on appearance may be particularly impactful for men’s gym attendance and intentions. Overall, our findings suggest that gym anxiety impacts both men and women, gym anxiety is related to gym avoidance, and gym anxiety may be moderated by self-worth contingencies, especially for men.