Relationships Among Muscle Dysmorphia Characteristics, Body Image Quality of Life, and Coping in Males

Abstract
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among bodybuilding dependence, muscle satisfaction, body image-related quality of life and body image-related coping strategies, and test the hypothesis that muscle dysmorphia characteristics may predict quality of life via coping strategies.

Design
Participants (294 males, Mage = 20.5 years, SD = 3.1) participated in a cross-sectional survey.

Methods
Participants completed questionnaires assessing muscle satisfaction, bodybuilding dependence, body image-related quality of life and body image-related coping.

Results
Quality of life was correlated positively with muscle satisfaction and bodybuilding dependence but negatively with body image coping (P < 0.05). Body image coping was correlated positively with bodybuilding dependence and negatively with muscle satisfaction (P < 0.05). Mediation analysis found that bodybuilding dependence and muscle satisfaction predicted quality of life both directly and indirectly via body image coping strategies (as evidenced by the bias corrected and accelerated bootstrapped confidence intervals).

Conclusions
These results provide preliminary evidence regarding the ways that muscularity concerns might influence body image-related quality of life.