Exercise Avoidance and Stress: The Mediating Role of Fear of Failure
Keywords:
Exercise Avoidance, Perceived Stress, Fear of FailureAbstract
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between exercise avoidance and perceived stress, and to examine whether fear of failure mediates this relationship among adults in India. A descriptive correlational research design was employed with a sample of 419 adult participants, selected using Krejcie and Morgan’s sample size table. Participants completed three standardized self-report measures: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Exercise Avoidance Scale (EAS), and the Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI). Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to assess bivariate relationships among variables using SPSS-27. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was conducted using AMOS-21 to test the mediating effect of fear of failure on the association between exercise avoidance and stress. Model fit was evaluated using multiple indices including χ²/df, RMSEA, GFI, CFI, and TLI. Results indicated significant positive correlations between exercise avoidance and perceived stress (r = .42, p < .001), exercise avoidance and fear of failure (r = .45, p < .001), and fear of failure and perceived stress (r = .48, p < .001). The SEM analysis revealed that fear of failure partially mediated the relationship between exercise avoidance and perceived stress. The model showed good fit to the data (χ²/df = 2.20, RMSEA = 0.053, GFI = 0.94, CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.95). Direct effects were significant for all paths: exercise avoidance → fear of failure (β = 0.45), fear of failure → stress (β = 0.42), and exercise avoidance → stress (β = 0.29), with a total effect of β = 0.49. Fear of failure significantly mediates the relationship between exercise avoidance and stress, indicating that cognitive-emotional factors play a critical role in shaping behavioral responses to stress. Interventions that address fear of failure may help reduce psychological distress and promote engagement in health-enhancing behaviors.
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