Predictive Factors of Muscle Dysmorphia, Intent to Use Steroids, and Non-Intuitive Eating in Male Recreational Weightlifters

Abstract

Muscle Dysmorphia (MD) is a pathological disorder that arises from men's extreme desire for the socially valued, "perfect" male physique and most often appears in male bodybuilders and weightlifters. Predictive factors for this disorder include body dissatisfaction, physical perfectionism, steroid use, and restrictive eating behaviors. Gender-role norms and media images contribute to the development of MD symptoms, with some researchers theorizing that women's social and economic achievements produce "gender-role strain" on some men, who then feel the need to engage in hypermasculine behaviors (such as extreme muscle building) to counteract such strain. Thus, sexist attitudes also may predict MD symptoms. 182 male recreational weightlifters were recruited from Powerhouse Gyms in the Detroit Metro area to fill out a survey assessing: 1) four components of MD, 2) body dissatisfaction, 3) physical perfectionism, 4) intent to use steroids, 5) restrictive eating behaviors, 6) hours spent working out in the gym, and 7) sexist attitudes. A series of multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that steroid-use intent significantly predicted three components of MD symptoms. As expected, body dissatisfaction, physical perfectionism, and hours spent working out were also significant predictors of MD components. However, restrictive eating was not a significant predictor. These findings suggest that MD is more similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder than to eating disorders. In addition, sexist attitudes significantly predicted the MD component of Bodybuilding Dependence, thus lending support to the "gender-role strain theory" of MD.