Serial Multiple Mediating Effects of Appearance Satisfaction and Self-esteem on the Relationship Between Obesity Stress and Happiness in Female College Students

This study examined the effect of obesity stress on happiness among female college students and verified the mediating effects of appearance satisfaction and self-esteem, including their serial multiple mediating effect. The participants were 351 female college students attending universities in Chungcheongnam-do, Korea, and data were collected from June to October 2021 using a structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and PROCESS macro 4.0. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and mediation analysis were conducted to identify the relationships among obesity stress, appearance satisfaction, self-esteem, and happiness. The results showed that obesity stress was negatively correlated with appearance satisfaction, self-esteem, and happiness, whereas appearance satisfaction and self-esteem were positively correlated with happiness. Among the major variables, self-esteem showed the strongest positive correlation with happiness. Obesity stress had significant negative effects on appearance satisfaction and self-esteem, while appearance satisfaction and self-esteem had significant positive effects on happiness. The mediation analysis confirmed that appearance satisfaction and self-esteem each significantly mediated the relationship between obesity stress and happiness. Furthermore, appearance satisfaction and self-esteem showed a significant serial multiple mediating effect between obesity stress and happiness. These findings suggest that obesity stress affects happiness among female college students not only directly but also indirectly through appearance satisfaction and self-esteem. Therefore, interventions designed to reduce obesity stress, promote positive body perception, improve appearance satisfaction, and strengthen self-esteem may help enhance psychological well-being and happiness among female college students.