Psychosocial Determinants of Women’s Physical Activity and Body Mass Index: A Cross-Cultural Mediation Analysis in Amman and Budapest
Abstract
Background: Physical activity (PA) is a key determinant of health and body weight, yet participation among women is influenced by psychosocial and sociocultural factors that may vary across cultural settings. This study examined the associations between psychosocial determinants, PA, and body mass index (BMI) among women residing in Amman (Jordan) and Budapest (Hungary), and investigated whether PA mediates the associations between social support, cultural support for women’s PA, perceived social safety, and BMI.
Methods: A cross-sectional comparative design was employed. A total of 800 women aged 18–45 years (Amman = 399; Budapest = 401) completed measures of social support for PA, perceived cultural support, perceived social safety, and PA using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). BMI was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Nonparametric analyses were conducted to examine cross-cultural differences and associations among study variables. Bootstrapped mediation analyses (5,000 resamples) were performed to assess indirect associations between psychosocial determinants and BMI through PA.
Results: Women in Budapest reported significantly higher PA levels, lower BMI, greater perceived social support, stronger cultural support for women’s PA, and higher perceptions of social safety than women in Amman (all p < .001). Social support, cultural support, and perceived social safety were positively associated with PA participation, while PA was negatively associated with BMI (r = −0.35, p < .001). PA partially mediated the associations between social support and BMI and between cultural support and BMI. No significant indirect association was observed between perceived social safety and BMI through PA.
Conclusion: Psychosocial and sociocultural environments were significantly associated with women’s PA and BMI across two culturally distinct populations. PA may represent an important behavioural pathway linking supportive social environments to healthier weight-related outcomes. Interventions that strengthen social support and culturally supportive environments may contribute to increased PA participation among women.
Keywords: Physical activity, body mass index, social support, social environment, women’s health
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