Giordano Fiorenza, Calaresi Danilo, Castellani Loriana, Verrastro Valeria, Feraco Tommaso, Saladino Valeria
Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, Italy.
Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Behav Sci (Basel). 2025 Jan 24;15(2):122. doi: 10.3390/bs15020122.
Muscle dysmorphia (MD) consists of a type of body dysmorphic disorder and involves a distorted perception of one's muscles, strict diets, and workouts. Mostly, studies focus on adult male athletes, especially bodybuilders, while research on adolescents and women is limited. Our study aims to explore potential protective or risk factors influencing MD, using a mediation model calculated through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and at the same time help to involve female individuals in the exploration of a distress traditionally and predominantly analyzed only in male individuals. The model examines whether problematic social media use (PSMU) and generalized self-efficacy (GSE) are potential first- and second-level mediators, respectively, in the relationship between perceived social support (PSS) and MD. The sample consisted of 2325 individuals of both sexes aged 14-29 years. Structural equation models were used to assess effect sizes, regressions, and direct and indirect effects of perceived social support on muscle dysmorphia and general self-efficacy both on problematic social media use and muscle dysmorphia. Our results suggest that inadequate perceived social support may reduce individuals' perceived effectiveness in managing daily challenges, potentially leading to problematic use of social media, which may contribute to muscle dysmorphia symptoms. Future interventions could promote a healthier perception of one's body, improving confidence in individuals' coping strategies and strengthening the social environment of reference.
肌肉畸形症（MD）是身体畸形障碍的一种类型，涉及对自身肌肉的扭曲认知、严格的饮食和锻炼。大多数情况下，研究聚焦于成年男性运动员，尤其是健美运动员，而对青少年和女性的研究有限。我们的研究旨在利用通过结构方程模型（SEM）计算的中介模型，探索影响肌肉畸形症的潜在保护因素或风险因素，同时助力将女性个体纳入对一种传统上主要仅在男性个体中分析的困扰的探索。该模型检验有问题的社交媒体使用（PSMU）和一般自我效能感（GSE）是否分别是感知社会支持（PSS）与肌肉畸形症之间关系中的潜在一级和二级中介变量。样本包括2325名年龄在14至29岁之间的男女个体。结构方程模型用于评估效应大小、回归以及感知社会支持对肌肉畸形症的直接和间接影响，以及一般自我效能感对有问题的社交媒体使用和肌肉畸形症的直接和间接影响。我们的结果表明，感知社会支持不足可能会降低个体应对日常挑战的感知效能，可能导致社交媒体的问题使用，进而可能导致肌肉畸形症症状。未来的干预措施可以促进对自身身体更健康的认知，提高个体应对策略的信心，并加强参考社会环境。
