Abstract:

Introduction:
Emerging research underscores the intricate relationship between physical health metrics, such as body composition, and psychological well-being. Our research probes the associations between detailed body composition parameters—including intracellular and extracellular water volumes, visceral and total body fat percentages, muscle mass, and dense tissue weight—and mental well-being, quantified using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), within a university student sample with representative demographic, with a focus on the potential moderating effects of gender and age on these relationships, while also providing a nuanced analysis relevant to physical health science and sportive psychology.

Methods:
A comprehensive cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 284 university students, who underwent detailed body composition assessments via advanced bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Concurrently, participants' mental well-being was evaluated through the WEMWBS. The study cohort featured a mean age of 21.3 years (SD = 2.1) with a gender distribution of 52% female and 48% male. Multivariate regression models were applied to examine the relationships between body composition metrics and WEMWBS scores, incorporating interaction terms to assess the moderating roles of gender and age.

Results:
Initial Pearson correlation analyses yielded significant associations, notably between WEMWBS scores and total body fat (r = -.24, p < .01), and muscle mass (r = .19, p < .05). Advanced multivariate regression analyses, adjusting for demographic covariates, illuminated visceral fat (β = -.18, p < .05) and muscle mass (β = .21, p < .01) as robust predictors of mental well-being scores. A significant gender-total body fat interaction term (β = -.14, p < .05) was unveiled, indicating a differential impact of body fat on mental well-being by gender. Age, however, did not emerge as a significant moderator in the predictive model (p > .05).

Discussion:
The results reveal critical insights into the dynamic interplay between specific body composition elements and mental well-being among university students. The positive correlation of muscle mass with mental well-being underscores the potential psychological benefits of physical fitness. In contrast, the negative association with visceral fat highlights the detrimental effects of adverse body composition on psychological health. The discovery of a gender-specific interaction with total body fat accentuates the complexity of these relationships, suggesting that gender-sensitive approaches in health promotion and psychological support are warranted.

Conclusion:
This research delineates a sophisticated and multifaceted relationship between body composition, gender, and mental well-being, advocating for targeted physical health interventions to enhance mental wellness among university students. Future research endeavours should aim to unravel the causal pathways underlying these associations through longitudinal designs and explore the efficacy of gender-tailored health and wellness interventions.

Keywords:

Body composition, well-being, students.