Relationship among Muscle Dysmorphia, Social Physique Anxiety and Body Checking Behavior

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of muscle dysmorphia in male bodybuilders, and to explore the relationships among muscle dysmorphia, social physique anxiety, and body checking behavior. Five hundred and twenty adult males (aged: 27.9 ± 7.5 years old), who were not engaged in competitive sports were participated for this study. After agreeing to participate, all participants were asked to complete a package of inventories, including measures of the muscle dysmorphia questionnaire, social physique anxiety inventory, and body checking behaviors questionnaire. Results showed that the overall occurrence of muscle dysmorphia was 12.5%. Participants, who scored high in muscles dysmorphia were high in global muscle checking, chest and shoulder muscle checking, comparative checking, and body testing of body checking behavior than those, who scored low in muscles dysmorphia. Our results further indicated that muscle dysmorphia, social physique anxiety, global muscle checking, chest and shoulder muscle checking, other-comparative checking, and body measuring behavior were positively correlated. Using social physical anxiety as a mediating variable, hierarchical regression analysis showed that impact of muscle dysmorphia on body checking behaviors remains positive, but less variance accounted. Mediating results suggested that social physical anxiety partially attributed the relationship between muscle dysmorphia and body checking behaviors. On the other hand, social physical anxiety plays an important mechanism for muscle dysmorphia to body checking behaviors. Therefore, we concluded that the occurrence of muscle dysmorphia is related to social physique anxiety, and the muscle dysmorphia predicted the checking behavior of muscularity.