Prior research has established significant associations between regular physical activity and enhancements in well-being, quality of life, and self-regulation. Given that these benefits may extend to influence the quality of romantic relationships, the present study was the first to evaluate the relationship between exercise and romantic relationship satisfaction through the role of body image, drawing upon the Self-Determination Theory as the theoretical framework. Specifically, the current study aimed to achieve three objectives: (a) to investigate the impact of exercise on romantic relationship satisfaction, (b) to examine the effects of body image as a mediator in the exercise-relationship connection, and (c) to determine whether exercise motives moderate the mediating effect of body image. Data were gathered from an online survey completed by 392 cisgender women in heterosexual relationships and analyzed using PROCESS Macro for SPSS Model 4 and Model 7, respectively. The results showed that exercise frequency was not directly related to romantic relationship satisfaction. However, body image fully mediated this association, indicating that increased exercise predicted body satisfaction and subsequently contributed to individuals' perceived relationship quality. While exercise motivation did not emerge as a moderator of the mediation of body image, health/fitness and enjoyment/mood motives significantly predicted positive body evaluation and relationship quality. In contrast, concerns related to appearance were linked to higher levels of social comparison and negative affect. Therefore, these findings highlight the value of fostering a positive body image and reducing body-focused motivation, as well as prioritizing autonomous exercise for the quality of romantic relationships and overall well-being.

Syftet med studien var att (a) studera hälsosam kroppsuppfattning i relation till kroppsfunktionalitet, motionsmotiv, ångest och självkänsla, samt (b) undersöka om dessa faktorer kan predicera hälsosam kroppsuppfattning. Via webbenkäter samlades data in vid två tillfällen. 93 stycken kvinnor deltog, samtliga var över 18 år. Regressionsanalys visade att samtliga prediktorer kroppsfunktionalitet, utseenderelaterade motionsmotiv, funktionsrelaterade motionsmotiv, ångest och självkänsla var signifikanta prediktorer för kroppsuppskattning och utseendevärdering. Utvecklingsteorin om förkroppsligande samt Objektifieringsteorin är två välanvända teorier i sammanhang som studerar hälsosam kroppsuppfattning. Dessa användes i studien för att belysa kroppsfunktionalitetens roll i relation till hälsosam kroppsuppfattning samt ge en ökad förståelse för kroppsuppfattning ur en kvinnlig aspekt. Studiens resultat uppmärksammar faktorer som är relevanta i arbetet att förebygga och behandla kvinnors kroppsuppfattning. / The purpose of the study was to (a) study healthy body image in relation to body functionality, exercise motives, anxiety and self-esteem, and (b) examine whether these factors can predict healthy body image. Data were collected via web surveys on two occasions. 93 women participated, and all of them were over the age of 18. Regression analysis showed that all predictors, body functionality, appearance-related exercise motives, function-related exercise motives, anxiety and self-esteem were significant predictors of body appreciation and appearance evaluation. The developmental theory of embodiment and the objectification theory are two theories that are well-used in contexts that study positive body image. These were used in the study to illuminate the role of body functionality in relation to positive body image and to provide an increased understanding of body image from a female aspect. The results of the study draw attention to factors that are relevant in the work of preventing and treating women's body image.