Thesis (M.S.), Wellness Management, Exercise Science--University of Central Oklahoma, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-63).

As increasing emphases are placed on the importance of a muscular male physique in Westernized culture, more men are experiencing eating, exercise, and body image (EEBI) disturbances. Clinician-researchers have identified a syndrome, termed muscle dysmorphia (MD), in which individuals, usually men, are pathologically preoccupied with their perceived lack of muscularity. The current study tested a modified version of an extant theoretical model of MD symptomatology as well as an alternative model of MD symptomatology. Over 700 adult men completed a demographic questionnaire, a symptom inventory, a self-esteem questionnaire, a measure of perfectionism, a measure of the media’s influence on EEBI disturbances, and measures of body dissatisfaction and MD symptoms. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the goodness of fit of the proposed models. Overall, the first model demonstrated poor fit with the data. Conversely, the alternative model fit the data adequately. The alternative model was cross validated with a second sample, and also fit this data adequately.

Thesis (M.A.)--Western Kentucky University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 27-30).

Introduction: This dissertation explored the acute effects of varying resistance exercise intensities in men with symptoms of muscle dysmorphia (MD). MD is a complex and disabling disorder; yet, despite the negative health effects MD can have, few treatment methods exist, with many barriers. Exercise has the potential to overcome many of the barriers to MD treatment and has shown to have positive effects in people with related disorders; yet, these effects have not been tested in men with MD. Methods: Twenty-one men were recruited and completed four on-site sessions. Sessions 1 and 2 included a battery of psychological and physiological measures. Sessions 3 and 4 were single sessions of moderate (70% of 10-RM) and high (100% of 10-RM) intensity RE in a counterbalanced order separated by at least 48-hours. Acute changes in body image, affective valence, perceived activation, perceived muscle size, and exercise enjoyment, were assessed before (PRE), during (MID), immediately after (POST), and 30-minutes after (DELAY) each session. Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant effects of time for state body image (F = 8.05, p < .01, η2 = .17), affective valence (F = 5.12, p = .01, η2 = .28), perceived activation (F = 48.47, p < .001, η2 = .79), perceived muscle size (F = 8.79, p < .01, η2 = .31), and exercise enjoyment (F = 6.84, p < .01, η2 = .15). There were significant effects of condition (i.e., intensity) for perceived activation (F = 9.13, p < .01, η2 = .19) only. There was a significant condition x time interaction for perceived activation (F = 3.49, p = .03, η2 = .22) and exercise enjoyment (F = 3.12, p = .05, η2 = .07). Post-hoc analyses revealed a significant increase in state body image during both sessions (ps > .05), but a significant decrease in state body image emerged from POST to DELAY (p < .05) during the moderate intensity session only. Additionally, during the moderate intensity session affective valence significantly decreased from MID and POST to DELAY (ps < .01). There were no significant changes in affective valence at any time point during the high intensity session (ps > .05). During the moderate intensity session, perceived activation significantly increased from PRE to MID, and POST (ps < .01), but significantly decreased from PRE, MID, and POST, to DELAY (ps < .01). During the high intensity session, perceived activation significantly increased from PRE to MID (p < .01), and from PRE and MID, to POST (ps < .01). Also, during the high intensity session perceived activation significantly decreased from PRE, MID, and POST, to DELAY (ps < .01). Perceived muscle size significantly increased from PRE to POST (p < .01), and significantly decreased from POST to DELAY (p < .01). Further, results suggest that participants enjoyed the high intensity RE session significantly more compared to the moderate intensity session (p < .01). Conclusion: Results suggest that men with MD symptoms have a more favorable response to high vs. moderate intensity RE. These results support the literature suggesting that RE intensity likely plays an important role in perceived body image and muscle size among men with MD symptoms. Further research testing the effects of different RE variables (e.g., frequency, duration) is warranted to establish an optimal RE protocol to maximize body satisfaction in this population.

Thesis (M.A.)--Western Kentucky University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 33-39).

No description available.

Using the psycho-behavioral model as a conceptual framework, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, muscle dysmorphia, and exercise dependence among college men. Participants (n = 110) completed surveys including a demographic questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Body Part Satisfaction Scale, Drive for Muscularity Scale, and Exercise Dependence Scale-21. No significant relationship was found between self-esteem and muscle dysmorphia. A significant correlation was found between body dissatisfaction and muscle dysmorphia, as well as between muscle dysmorphia and exercise dependence. These results partially support the psycho-behavioral model of muscle dysmorphia.

No description available.

Over the past decade, the study of male body image has increased considerably and substantial levels of body discontent among males have been reported. Accompanying this dissatisfaction is a rise in the documentation of the Drive for Muscularity (DFM), or the desire for increased lean muscle mass, in men. The current study had three objectives. The first was to identify theoretical variables associated with the DFM. The second was to examine body image evaluation and investment in relation to the DFM. The third was to explore the DFM and psychological well-being. Two-hundred fourteen men completed the study and multiple regressions were carried out to examine the various relations. Awareness and internalization of the male body ideal and universalistic social comparison accounted for 35% of the variance in the DFM. Body image investment, but not evaluation, accounted for 26% of the variance in the DFM. Regarding psychological well-being, the DFM accounted for an additional 23% of the variance in muscle pathology after controlling for levels of depression and self-esteem. Other notable findings included mens self-reported intentions to use potentially unhealthy body change strategies to increase size and musculature in the future, and statistically significant associations between the DFM and self-esteem, social physique anxiety, and general worry. These results contribute to the growing literature on male body image and the implications for clinical practice with men presenting with body dissatisfaction are discussed.

This study examined relationships among self-esteem, media internalization, sexual orientation, and ethnicity in predicting drive for muscularity in a diverse group of men (N = 217) who work out in gyms. Investigations examined media internalization and sexual orientation as moderators of the relationship between self-esteem and drive for muscularity. Additional analyses examined media internalization as a moderator of the relationships between a) sexual orientation and drive for muscularity and b) ethnicity and drive for muscularity. Standardized questionnaires were utilized to assess drive for muscularity, media internalization, self-esteem, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. While lower self-esteem predicted greater drive for muscularity, neither media internalization nor sexual orientation were significant moderators of this relationship. However, media internalization mediated the relationships between sexual orientation and drive for muscularity and between ethnicity and drive for muscularity. Findings suggest that the internalization of ideal muscularized images explain demographic differences in the drive to be more muscular.