Predicting drive for muscularity behavioural engagement from body image attitudes and emotions

We examined the potential moderating effects of appearance investment, body image disturbance, and situational body image dysphoria on the drive for muscularity attitude–behaviour relationship. Participants (339 British college men, MAGE = 20.00 years, SD = 2.59) completed drive for muscularity attitude and behaviour, appearance investment, body image disturbance, and situational body image dysphoria measures. Results indicated higher levels of appearance investment, body image disturbance, and situational body image dysphoria were associated with increases in the drive for muscularity attitude's relationship with physique-enhancing behavioural engagement. Results help extend recent research that has moved beyond identifying correlates to examining ways that groups of variables interact to predict drive for muscularity behavioural engagement and may contribute to theory development.

► Drive for muscularity correlated with appearance schema processing, body image disturbance and dysphoria.
► Schema processing, body image disturbance and dysphoria moderated the drive for muscularity attitude–behaviour relationship.
► Results revealed that Cash's body image theory provides a suitable framework to guide drive for muscularity research.