Men's body image dissatisfaction and cognitive distortion

Abstract

The current study set out to investigate whether males who actively participate in weight training activity would show higher levels of body image dissatisfaction and related psychopathologies than a non-weight training student sample. Sixty eight university male students and 63 male weight trainers filled out a questionnaire which contained scales measuring body image dissatisfaction, obsessive-compulsive symptomology, and narcissism. Participants also completed the Somatomorphic Matrix to measure levels of cognitive distortion in body image, and had their actual body fat percentages and muscle mass calculated. Although not all hypotheses were clearly supported, results indicated cognitive distortion for body fat percentage actual versus perceived measurements in both groups, but no significant cognitive distortion was shown for muscle mass. Both groups indicated that they thought women preferred men to have approximately thirteen percent body fat, and to have between seven and ten kilograms more muscle than they currently had. Approximately twenty five percent of both groups scored within the clinical range for Muscle Dysmorphia. Body dissatisfaction was significantly high in both groups as were levels of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which were well above previously documented prevalence rates. The results showed no relationship between body image dissatisfaction, psychopathologies and exercise frequency. Conclusions drawn were that body image dissatisfaction is increasingly prevalent over a wide range of New Zealand males, and this body image dissatisfaction may be linked or lead to more serious interference in day to day functioning for these men. Indications for future research include the development of an instrument to specifically measure obsessive-compulsive behaviour in relationship to exercise and body image. Further, to develop an educational program to help young men and boys to critique media images of 'ideal' male bodies. Previous literature and the findings from this research are discussed.