Social Cognitive Correlates of Drive for Muscularity and Resistance Exercise Participation

Abstract

Drive for muscularity (DM) is becoming increasingly prevalent among young men. DM has been linked with increased resistance exercise (RE) participation and use of dietary supplements. However, given that DM has also been associated with maladaptive health-related attitudes and behaviors, identifying the correlates of DM may aid in developing interventions that promote healthy exercise and dietary habits in men characterized by heightened disposition towards DM. Psychological factors have been proposed as one of the primary factors influencing the formation of DM. Although social cognitive variables are well-established correlates of exercise behavior, knowledge of the social cognitive correlates of DM remains limited. PURPOSE: The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the social cognitive correlates of DM in young men. METHODS: A sample of 112 men (M age = 21.56 years) completed assessments of DM, strenuous RE participation, self-efficacy for RE (SE), and satisfaction with physical function (SPF) and physical appearance (SPA). RESULTS: Results of bivariate correlation analyses revealed that SE (r =.20, p < 0.05), SPF (r = -.25, p < 0.01), SPA (r = -.19, p < 0.05), and RE (r =.20, p < 0.05) were significantly related to the attitudinal component of DM. Additionally, SE (r =.54, p < 0.01), SPF (r =.32, p < 0.01), SPA (r =.31, p < 0.01), and RE (r =.62, p < 0.01) were significantly correlated with the behavioral component of DM. Finally, RE was significantly correlated with each social cognitive construct that was assessed. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that social cognitive variables are significantly related to both the attitudinal and behavioral components of DM. The results also indicate that: (a) select social cognitive variables such as RE-related SE judgments and satisfaction with muscular function and appearance are more strongly related to the behavioral component of DM; and (b) satisfaction with appearance and function are inversely related with the attitudinal component of DM and positively correlated with the behavioral component of DM. These findings may have important implications for the design of interventions intended to promote healthy RE, dietary, and body image practices among young men.