Men’s Muscularity Image—The Role among Polish Young Population

Abstract

For many young men, enhancing their attractiveness as perceived by the opposite sex could be a potential reason for beginning physical activity. The aim of the study was to assess how women perceive male muscularity and how it could affect social relations between sexes. The intention was also to compare this assessment with the male view of the issue. An anonymous survey was conducted in electronic form and shared to Polish students. The questionnaire was completed by 5,190 respondents (4,043 women and 1,147 men). Women preferred a less muscular body than men. All muscle groups apart from the buttocks were also rated as more important by men than by women. The social role of muscularity, for example, in forming relationships with women was exaggerated by men. Men’s perception of their muscularity is not coherent with the way females perceive it.