Major
Psychology
Second Major
Sociology
Submission Type
Oral Presentation
Area of Study or Work
Psychology
Faculty Advisor
Marie Nebel-Schwalm
Expected Graduation Date
2027
Location
CNS E101
Start Date
4-12-2025 8:30 AM
End Date
4-12-2025 9:30 AM
Abstract
Muscularity is central to exploring men’s body image (Parent 2013). Research reveals how one’s muscularity can impact one’s psychological and physical behaviors such as maladaptive muscularity enhancement behaviors (Tykla, 2011) and symptoms of eating disorders (Lavender et al 2017). Several factors influence men’s experiences of body image dissatisfaction including drive for muscularity (Bergeron & Tylka 2007) and height dissatisfaction (Griffiths et al., 2017). Height dissatisfaction may also predict quality of life impairment for some men (Griffiths et al 2017). While one cannot easily change one’s height, muscularity is more amenable to being changed. Some have suggested that men who are dissatisfied with their height may be more likely to focus on developing their muscularity as a way to be consistent with masculine norms (Talbot & Mahlberg, 2023). Developing one’s muscularity can be changed either in healthy or unhealthy ways. To effectively help men who may be at risk for maladaptive eating and related behaviors, more research is needed to understand the relationship between height dissatisfaction and drive for muscularity. The present correlation study seeks to examine the relationship between height dissatisfaction and drive for muscularity, and to determine if levels of height dissatisfaction moderate this relationship among men. After accounting for the effects of one’s reported height, we hypothesize that men’s height dissatisfaction will positively correlate with drive for muscularity (Griffiths et al., 2017). Furthermore, we predict that those with more height dissatisfaction will have stronger levels of drive for muscularity as compared to those with lower height dissatisfaction (Talbot & Mahlbert 2023). For methodology, we will use the Male Body Attitudes Scale and Drive for Muscularity scale and perform hierarchical linear regressions to analyze the relationship between height dissatisfaction and drive for muscularity while accounting for reported actual height (as a covariate) among men.
Does Height Dissatisfaction Moderate Drive for Muscularity in Men?
CNS E101
Muscularity is central to exploring men’s body image (Parent 2013). Research reveals how one’s muscularity can impact one’s psychological and physical behaviors such as maladaptive muscularity enhancement behaviors (Tykla, 2011) and symptoms of eating disorders (Lavender et al 2017). Several factors influence men’s experiences of body image dissatisfaction including drive for muscularity (Bergeron & Tylka 2007) and height dissatisfaction (Griffiths et al., 2017). Height dissatisfaction may also predict quality of life impairment for some men (Griffiths et al 2017). While one cannot easily change one’s height, muscularity is more amenable to being changed. Some have suggested that men who are dissatisfied with their height may be more likely to focus on developing their muscularity as a way to be consistent with masculine norms (Talbot & Mahlberg, 2023). Developing one’s muscularity can be changed either in healthy or unhealthy ways. To effectively help men who may be at risk for maladaptive eating and related behaviors, more research is needed to understand the relationship between height dissatisfaction and drive for muscularity. The present correlation study seeks to examine the relationship between height dissatisfaction and drive for muscularity, and to determine if levels of height dissatisfaction moderate this relationship among men. After accounting for the effects of one’s reported height, we hypothesize that men’s height dissatisfaction will positively correlate with drive for muscularity (Griffiths et al., 2017). Furthermore, we predict that those with more height dissatisfaction will have stronger levels of drive for muscularity as compared to those with lower height dissatisfaction (Talbot & Mahlbert 2023). For methodology, we will use the Male Body Attitudes Scale and Drive for Muscularity scale and perform hierarchical linear regressions to analyze the relationship between height dissatisfaction and drive for muscularity while accounting for reported actual height (as a covariate) among men.