Investigating muscularity concerns in male body image: Development of the Swansea Muscularity Attitudes Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: An investigation into muscularity concerns in males was carried out. METHOD: A series of questionnaires, containing items pertaining to attitudes and behavior relating to muscularity, were administered to normal male subjects. RESULTS: Factor analysis revealed two underlying constructs. The first reflected the desire to be muscular and and to such goal-oriented behaviors. The second reflected perceived positive attributes of muscularity, including feelings of masculinity, enhanced confidence, and greater attractiveness. Following preliminary studies, a final version of the Swansea Muscularity Attitudes Questionnaire was developed and administered to 303 normal male subjects. Factor analysis of these data confirmed the dual-construct model. The two subscales of this questionnaire (Drive for Muscularity and Positive Attributes of Muscularity) displayed high internal reliability. DISCUSSION: It is suggested that this questionnaire provides a tool that may be used to investigate further the relationship between muscularity concerns and body image issues in males.