Psychosocial predictors of drive for muscularity in male collegiate athletes

Body Image. 2015 Jun:14:62-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.03.009. Epub 2015 Apr 13.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the simultaneous relation of general and sport-specific pressures about body weight and shape, negative affect, and body satisfaction to drive for muscularity (DM) in male collegiate athletes. Participants were 183 male athletes who were drawn from three NCAA Division I institutions and represented 17 different sports. As hypothesized, after controlling for BMI and sport type, sport-specific pressures, negative affect, and body satisfaction were significant predictors, and accounted for 15-34% of the variance in muscularity-oriented body image and muscularity behaviors; general pressures however were not significantly related. These findings offer insight into the personal and social antecedents of DM in male athletes, and serve as a starting point for future research on DM in this population.

Keywords: Male athlete body image; Muscularity-building behaviors; Sport weight pressures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Athletes / psychology*
  • Athletes / statistics & numerical data
  • Body Composition*
  • Body Image / psychology*
  • Body Weight
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Drive*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Muscle Strength*
  • Personal Satisfaction
  • Students / psychology*
  • Students / statistics & numerical data
  • Young Adult