Narcissism and the risk of exercise addiction in youth: the impact of problematic social media use and fitspiration exposure

Exercise represents precious tool in multimodal interventions for countering pathological conditions and promoting individual well-being. However, it might evolve into an addiction when people overinvest and prioritize training, neglecting other areas of their lives. This study investigates the association between both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism and the risk of exercise addiction (EA), addressing the involvement of problematic social media use (PSMU) and fitspiration exposure (i.e. the exposure to a specific kind of social media content aimed to motivate towards fitness and healthy lifestyle ostentatiously). The study employs an online cross-sectional design with 173 emerging adults (Mage = 21.96 years; SDage = 2.37 years; rangeage 18–25 years). The mediation analysis indicates that both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism indirectly affect the risk of EA through the sequential mediating effect of PSMU and fitspiration exposure. These findings highlight the role of the digital environment and socio-cultural pressures on the risk of EA. Practical implications include the need for targeted social media literacy campaigns to promote healthier engagement with online platforms and foster exercise practices that prioritize mental and physical well-being over appearance-driven goals. Limitations and future research directions are discussed.