Muscle Dysmorphia, Gender Role Stress, and Sociocultural Influences

Readdy, Tucker; Watkins, Patti Lou; Cardinal, Bradley J.

doi:10.1080/02701367.2011.10599759

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Muscle dysmorphia is more frequently diagnosed in male young adults [ 14 , 18 ], and bodybuilders represent a high-risk group [ 19 ]. The prevalence of muscle dysmorphia in the general population is still unknown since only few small studies are available [ 20 ]. We wonder if students from schools oriented to fitness and body care show an increased prevalence of the traits of this disorder.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

University courses, eating problems and muscle dysmorphia: are there any associations?

et al. 2014

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BackgroundOrthorexia and muscle dysmorphia are disorders affecting above all young adults whose prevalence and social impact are still unclear. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of the traits of orthorexia and muscle dysmorphia among freshmen attending university courses focused on nutrition (Dietetics) and body care (Exercise and Sport Sciences). Students of Biology were considered as a control group. The prevalence of eating disorder (ED) traits were also evaluated.MethodsAll participants (n = 440; n = 53 Dietetics school, n = 200 Exercise and Sport Sciences school, n = 187 the Biology school) completed the following questionnaires: ORTO-15, Muscle-Dysmorphic-Disorder-Inventory, and Eating Attitudes Test-26.ResultsThe prevalence of the traits of EDs, orthorexia, and muscle dysmorphia was 9.1%, 25.9%, and 5.9%, respectively. When compared to other students, those attending the Dietetics school showed a 2-fold higher risk of EDs and those from the Exercise and Sport Sciences school a 10-fold higher risk of muscle dysmorphia. The prevalence of orthorexia traits was high in all schools (35.9%, 22.5%, 26.5% in Dietetics, Biology, and Exercise and Sport Sciences schools, respectively). Overall, individuals with traits of any of these disorders were more frequently on diet or on supplement use. In a logistic regression model, attending the Dietetics school (OR = 2.71; 95% CI 1.14-6.48) was significantly associated with the ED traits, but not with the orthorexia traits (OR = 1.75; 95% CI 0.93-3.29), while attending the Exercise and Sport Sciences school was significantly associated with the muscle dysmorphia traits (OR = 5.15; 95% CI 1.44-18.4). Finally, when evaluating the relationships among the types of study programs as dependent variables and traits of these disturbances, the associations between the traits of ED (OR = 3.35; 95% CI 1.38-8.13) and matriculation at the school of Dietetics, and between the traits of muscle dysmorphia (OR = 4.32; 95% CI 1.16-16.1) and the choice of the Exercise and Sport Sciences school were confirmed.ConclusionsThe choice of the university courses might be influenced by pre-existing disorders in eating behaviors, which were relatively frequent in the considered sample.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

University courses, eating problems and muscle dysmorphia: are there any associations?

et al. 2014

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“…Mass media play a key role in distributing an unrealistic muscular and lean male body image, which becomes the body ideal for many boys and men trying to achieve this goal by any means (Smolak et al, 2005; Cafri et al, 2006; Parent and Moradi, 2011; Readdy et al, 2011). To our knowledge, there are no studies explicitly investigating the impact on internalization of media body ideals in weight-training samples so far, but it can be assumed, that this sample shows higher degrees of internalization, since they might also be closer to this ideal than the usual samples of school boys and college or community men.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological, Psychological, and Sociocultural Factors Contributing to the Drive for Muscularity in Weight-Training Men

et al. 2016

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The drive for muscularity and associated behaviors (e.g., exercising and dieting) are of growing importance for men in Western societies. In its extreme form, it can lead to body image concerns and harmful behaviors like over-exercising and the misuse of performance-enhancing substances. Therefore, investigating factors associated with the drive for muscularity, especially in vulnerable populations like bodybuilders and weight trainers can help identify potential risk and protective factors for body image problems. Using a biopsychosocial framework, the aim of the current study was to explore different factors associated with drive for muscularity in weight-training men. To this purpose, German-speaking male weight trainers (N = 248) completed an online survey to determine the extent to which biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors contribute to drive for muscularity and its related attitudes and behaviors. Using multiple regression models, findings showed that media ideal body internalization was the strongest positive predictor for drive for muscularity, while age (M = 25.9, SD = 7.4) held the strongest negative association with drive for muscularity. Dissatisfaction with muscularity, but not with body fat, was related to drive for muscularity. The fat-free mass index, a quantification of the actual degree of muscularity of a person, significantly predicted drive for muscularity-related behavior but not attitudes. Body-related aspects of self-esteem, but not global self-esteem, were significant negative predictors of drive for muscularity. Since internalization of media body ideals presented the highest predictive value for drive for muscularity, these findings suggest that media body ideal internalizations may be a risk factor for body image concerns in men, leading, in its most extreme form to disordered eating or muscle dysmorphia. Future research should investigate the relations between drive for muscularity, age, body composition, internalization, dissatisfaction with muscularity and body-related self-esteem using longitudinal study designs. Limitations concern the cross-sectional design of the study, self-reported body composition measures and the homogeneity of the sample.

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“…This is not the first study to report that female's physical activity influences and motives for participation in physical activity might be more complex than that of males. For example, Readdy, Watkins, and Cardinal (2011) found that a larger constellation of sociocultural factors influence females' in comparison to males' body imagerelated, extreme physical activity behaviors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why do University Students Enroll in Physical Activity Education Courses? Differential Affects of Required Versus Elective Institutional Policies

Cardinal¹,

Kim²

2017

International Journal of Sports and Physical Education

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Muscle Dysmorphia, Gender Role Stress, and Sociocultural Influences

Cited by 17 publications

References 32 publications

University courses, eating problems and muscle dysmorphia: are there any associations?

University courses, eating problems and muscle dysmorphia: are there any associations?

Biological, Psychological, and Sociocultural Factors Contributing to the Drive for Muscularity in Weight-Training Men

Why do University Students Enroll in Physical Activity Education Courses? Differential Affects of Required Versus Elective Institutional Policies

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