High intrasexual competition is related to inflated height reports in male junior soccer players

- We explored the association between personality traits and inflated body size reports.
- Intrasexual competition is positively correlated with a bias in height report.
- Aggressive and sociable dominance are not associated with height report bias.
- No correlations of weight, or BMI bias report with personality traits were observed.

Intrasexual competition refers to the rivalry between same-sex individuals over access to potential mates. Because in many animal species larger males are more likely to defeat smaller opponents over access to potential mates and additional resources, it has been suggested that intrasexual competition was a major driver in the emergence of male-biased sexual size dimorphism. In the same vein, human male height has been related to aggressive behavior, status and dominance. Given the value of body size in agonistic interactions, body inflation strategies are likely to have evolved in many animal species. In this study, we explored the relationship of the bias in reporting one's own height-a phenomenon reminiscent of animal self-inflation mechanisms-with intrasexual competition, and sociable and aggressive dominance, in the highly competitive context of Uruguayan pre-professional soccer. We also considered the bias in reporting additional operationalizations of body size, i.e., weight, and body mass index (BMI). We showed that intrasexual competition is positively correlated with height over-report. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to relate intrasexual competition and the bias in reporting one's own height, a putative indicator or power and status.