Is the Drive for Muscularity Scale a valid and reliable instrument for young adult women?

There is a lack of psychometric studies on scales aiming to evaluate the drive for muscularity in women. This study aimed to test whether the Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS) yielded reliable and valid scores for assessing the drive for muscularity construct in young adult women. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 242 Brazilian adult women. Exploratory factor analysis, convergent validity, estimated internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the DMS's scores were examined. The results of the exploratory factor analysis upheld the original unidimensional structure of the DMS for Brazilian women. The scale presented a significant but weak association with body mass index and risk behaviors for eating disorders. Adequate internal consistency and 2-week test-retest reliability were found. Future psychometric analyses (convergent and discriminant validity) of the DMS are encouraged to further our understanding of drive for muscularity in women, especially to confirm its unidimensional factor structure. Future research avenues also include examining the reliability and validity of the DMS's scores among women from various cultures.