Muscle dysmorphia symptomatology in male exercisers: Associations with cognitive flexibility and appearance motivation

IF 2.8 3区医学 Q2 PSYCHIATRY

Eating behaviors Pub Date : 2025-12-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-07 DOI:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2025.102050

Desiré Abrante, Alejandro Cano, Génesis Clemente, Marina Díaz

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Abstract

The association between sociocultural pressure and muscle dysmorphia (MD) is well-documented, yet the psychological variables involved require further investigation. This cross-sectional study examined a statistical model in 95 male exercisers in Spain (M age = 34.40) to explore the roles of appearance motivation and cognitive flexibility. Specifically, it tested the indirect association between the perceived influence of appearance ideals and MD symptoms through appearance motivation, and whether cognitive flexibility moderated this relationship. The overall model accounted for 48 % of the variance in MD symptoms (R² = 0.48), controlling for age. Results indicated a significant indirect association through appearance motivation (b = 0.16, 95 % CI [0.03, 0.36]). Additionally, a significant moderation was found (p = .043); the positive association between the influence of appearance ideals and MD symptoms was weaker for individuals with higher levels of cognitive flexibility. These findings are consistent with a model where MD symptom endorsement is linked to appearance motivation, while higher cognitive flexibility is related to a less pronounced association between sociocultural pressures and MD symptoms. Cognitive flexibility is highlighted as a potential protective correlate, suggesting that interventions could target motivational patterns and cognitive skills.

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男性锻炼者的肌肉畸形症状：与认知灵活性和外观动机的关系。

社会文化压力与肌肉畸形（MD）之间的关系已被充分证明，但涉及的心理变量需要进一步调查。本研究采用统计学模型对95名西班牙男性锻练者（M年龄= 34.40岁）进行分析，探讨外观动机与认知灵活性的关系。具体来说，它测试了通过外表动机感知到的外貌理想影响与MD症状之间的间接关联，以及认知灵活性是否调节了这种关系。在控制年龄的情况下，总体模型占MD症状方差的48% （R2 = 0.48）。结果表明，通过外观动机存在显著的间接关联（b = 0.16, 95% CI[0.03, 0.36]）。此外，发现显著的缓和（p = .043）；对于认知灵活性水平较高的个体，理想外表与MD症状之间的正相关影响较弱。这些发现与MD症状认可与外观动机相关的模型一致，而较高的认知灵活性与社会文化压力与MD症状之间不太明显的关联相关。认知灵活性被强调为潜在的保护性关联，表明干预可以针对动机模式和认知技能。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Eating behaviors Multiple-

CiteScore

4.20

自引率

3.60%

发文量

审稿时长

60 days

期刊介绍： Eating Behaviors is an international peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing human research on the etiology, prevention, and treatment of obesity, binge eating, and eating disorders in adults and children. Studies related to the promotion of healthy eating patterns to treat or prevent medical conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer) are also acceptable. Two types of manuscripts are encouraged: (1) Descriptive studies establishing functional relationships between eating behaviors and social, cognitive, environmental, attitudinal, emotional or biochemical factors; (2) Clinical outcome research evaluating the efficacy of prevention or treatment protocols.