Samira Sunderji, Catherine M. Sabiston

Discrepancies between perceived current and ideal fitness represent a common form of self-evaluation with implications for mental health (MH). Drawing on theory, these discrepancies may undermine MH when individuals perceive themselves as falling short of internal standards, particularly through emotional responses rooted in body image (e.g., shame, guilt, envy, embarrassment, pride). Understanding the emotional pathways linking self-discrepancies of fitness perceptions to MH advance theory and practice considerations. The purpose of this study was to examine whether body-related emotions mediate the association between fitness self-discrepancy and self-reported MH status, above and beyond current fitness levels. Cross-sectional data were collected from Canadian adults (N=1938; 51.9% female) who reported engaging in PA at least once per week or expressed a desire to be physically active. Controlling for current fitness level, hierarchical regression models revealed that greater fitness self-discrepancy predicted higher levels of shame (p=.008), guilt (p< .001), embarrassment (p=.041), and envy (p< .001). Indirect associations between fitness self-discrepancy and MH were significant for shame (b= -.02, 95% CI [-.04, -.01]), guilt (b= -.03, 95% CI [-.05, -.02]), envy (b = -.03, 95% CI [-.05, -.02]) and hubristic pride (b= -.01, 95% CI [-.02, -.001]), but not for authentic pride (b= -.01, 95% CI [-.02, .004]) and embarrassment (b= -.02, 95% CI [-.04, .0001]). Findings highlight how perceived fitness discrepancies may compromise MH not only by increasing selective negative self-conscious emotions, but also by reducing pride-based self-evaluations that represent important targets for future research and need to be tested in intervention or longitudinal designs.