There is increasing evidence showing that gender specific attitudes and behaviors predict
the onset of eating behaviors. Excessive exercise to gain weight and muscularity typically
reveal body dissatisfaction and predict eating disorders in males.
The present study explored how personality characteristics predict body dissatisfaction
and muscle dysmorphia, in a sample of adolescent boys (N = 178) who provided selfreports
along personality and body image concerns questionnaires.
Results from regression analyses showed that Dynamism and low Constraint concurrently
accounted for a significant variance proportion in Muscle Dysmorphia. Perfectionism,
Obsessiveness, and Ineffectiveness predicted higher scores on Body Dissatisfaction.
Results were controlled for age and BMI. A second data wave will be collected soon in
order to explore personality antecedents of changes in body dissatisfaction and muscle
dysmorphia. The results will help understand how personality self-views represent risk
factors for dysfunctional body images and related eating disordered attitudes, in young
males.
