Association between muscularity dissatisfaction and body dissatisfaction among normal-weight french men

Abstract

Background: Even though muscularity dissatisfaction has important health and psychological implications, the co-occurrence of body dissatisfaction and muscularity dissatisfaction in men’s body image disturbances and disordered eating is not well established. Furthermore, men’s body image disturbances are associated with depression and low levels of self-esteem. The aim of the present study is to identify a typology of young men based on levels of muscularity dissatisfaction, body dissatisfaction, and self-esteem, and to explore differences between cluster groups according to levels of depression and media influences. Methods: Participants completed a figure-rating scale to assess dissatisfaction with muscularity and self-report questionnaires assessing body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, media influences, and disor- dered eating. All variable values were centered. Results: The sample consisted of 328 normal-weight French men (mean age 21.9; SD = 2.4). Cluster analyses yielded three groups characterized by high levels of muscularity dissatisfaction and intermediate levels of body dissatisfaction and self-esteem for Cluster 1 by low levels of muscularity dissatisfaction and body dissatis- faction and high levels of self-esteem for Cluster 2, and by high levels of muscularity dissatisfaction and body dissatisfaction and low levels of self-esteem for Cluster 3. Cluster 3 had the highest levels of depressive symptoms and a significant rate of disordered eating. Conclusion: Dissatisfaction with muscle mass and body dissatisfaction may co-occur in a significant minority of young men, and this association can lead to a greater risk for depression and disordered eating. These results may have implications in the understanding and prevention of men’s body image disturbances, knowing that normal-weight men are usually considered a low-risk group for body image disturbances.