Characteristics associated with risky eating behaviors among university students in Mexico City / Características asociadas a conductas alimentarias de riesgo en estudiantes universitarios de la Ciudad de México

The purpose of this work was to identify characteristics associated with risky eating behaviors (REB) in university students. Participants were 781 women and 570 male students of a public university, with an average age of 20.1 years (SD = 2.7) and 21.2 years (SD = 3.3), respectively. The participants completed a set of self-report questionnaires, and their weight and height were measured. The prevalence of moderate frequency REB among women was 23.0% and high frequency 10.1%, while among men it was 22.3% and 6.7%, respectively (p = 0.07). Among women, the characteristics that increased the risk to present REB were: body dissatisfaction (OR = 5.4), negative affect (OR = 3.8), internalization of the ideal of thinness (OR = 3.6), and practicing some sport (OR = 2.8). Among men, these characteristics were: having being teased (OR = 10.3), drive for muscularity (OR = 3.4), body mass index (OR = 3.5) and practicing some sport (OR = 3.1). Given the different characteristics that increase the probability of presenting REB among university students and men, it is necessary to establish models that describe the specific risk conditions according to sex, as well as, to develop appropriate instruments and interventions.ResumenEl objetivo de este trabajo fue identificar características asociadas a conductas alimentarias de riesgo (CAR) en estudiantes universitarios. Participaron 781 mujeres y 570 hombres estudiantes de una universidad pública, con edad promedio de 20.1 años (DE = 2.7) y 21.2 años (DE = 3.3), respectivamente. Los participantes completaron una batería de cuestionarios de autoinforme y se registró su peso y talla. La prevalencia de CAR de frecuencia moderada entre las mujeres fue 23.0% y de frecuencia alta 10.1%, mientras que entre los hombres fue 22.3% y 6.7%, respectivamente (p = 0.07). Entre las mujeres, las características que aumentaron el riesgo para presentar CAR fueron: insatisfacción corporal (OR = 5.4), afecto negativo (OR = 3.8), interiorización del ideal de delgadez (OR = 3.6) y practicar algún deporte (OR = 2.8). Entre los hombres, estas características fueron: haber recibido burlas (OR = 10.3), motivación por la musculatura (OR = 3.4), índice de masa corporal (OR = 3.5) y practicar algún deporte (OR = 3.1). Ante las diferentes características que aumentan la probabilidad para presentar CAR entre mujeres y hombres universitarios, es necesario plantear modelos que describan las condiciones específicas de riesgo según sexo, así como desarrollar instrumentos e intervenciones apropiadas.

The Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test, Drive for Muscularity Scale, and Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory among Chinese Men: Confirmatory Factor Analyses

Research on eating disorders (EDs) and body image disturbances has focused mostly on females from Western countries, and little is known about EDs in male populations in China, which is partially due to the lack of validated assessment measures. The current work aims to translate the Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test (MOET), Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS) and Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI) into Chinese and examine their psychometric properties. The factor structures, reliability and validity of the translated scales were examined with two samples: male university students (n = 295, Mage = 18.92 years) and general adult men (n = 406, Mage = 28.53 years). With confirmatory factor analyses, the original factor structures are replicated for the MOET, DMS and MDDI. The results also support the adequate internal consistency for both samples. Strong evidence of convergent and incremental validity for the three measures is also found in both samples. Overall, the three measures prove to be good instruments for use among Chinese male university students and general adult men.

Propiedades psicométricas del Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS) en una muestra de hombres y mujeres jóvenes chilenos

Drive for muscularity, although it mainly occurs in men, is also experienced by women. It is important to have instruments to measure this construct, which is the reason why the aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS) in Chilean adolescents and young adults (n = 602). The DMS and the SATAQ-4 were administered. The confirmatory factor analysis showed two factors, one representing attitudes and the other behaviors, in addition to a second-order factor. This structure had a good fit for both sexes, although for women it was necessary to remove two items. Regarding sex, men showed higher scores and, with respect to age, adolescents manifested greater drive for muscularity. For both sexes a positive correlation between the DMS and the athletic/body ideal internalization scale was observed. These results confirm that the Chilean version of the DMS has adequate psychometric properties.

Community norms of the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI) among gender minority populations

Purpose Representing the pathological extreme pursuit of muscularity, muscle dysmorphia (MD) is characterized by a pervasive belief or fear around insufficient muscularity and an elevated drive for muscularity. Despite evidence of heightened body image-related concerns among gender minority populations, little is known about the degree of MD symptoms among gender minorities, particularly based on Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI) scores. The objective of this study was to assess community norms of the MDDI in gender-expansive people, transgender men, and transgender women. Method Data from participants in The PRIDE Study, an existing study of health outcomes in sexual and gender minority people, were examined. We calculated means, standard deviations, and percentiles for the MDDI total and subscale scores among gender-expansive people (i.e., those who identify outside of the binary system of man or woman; n = 1023), transgender men (n = 326), and transgender women (n = 177). The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess group differences and post hoc Dunn’s tests were used to examine pairwise differences. Results Transgender men reported the highest mean MDDI total score (30.5 ± 7.5), followed by gender-expansive people (27.2 ± 6.7), then transgender women (24.6 ± 5.7). The differences in total MDDI score were driven largely by the Drive for Size subscale and, to a lesser extent, the Functional Impairment subscale. There were no significant differences in the Appearance Intolerance subscale among the three groups. Conclusions Transgender men reported higher Drive for Size, Functional Impairment, and Total MDDI scores compared to gender-expansive people and transgender women. These norms provide insights into the experience of MD symptoms among gender minorities and can aid researchers and clinicians in the interpretation of MDDI scores among gender minority populations.

The Somatomorphic Matrix-Female: More Evidence for the Validity of Bidimensional Figural Rating Scales for Women

Our study aimed to develop and provide a preliminary psychometric validation of theSomatomorphic Matrix-Female (SM-F), a new bidimensional female figural rating scale which can be used to gauge actual and desired levels of both body fat and muscularity in a consolidated measure, as well as providing an index of actual–desired body discrepancy based on these measures. Across two studies undergraduate women (n Study 1 = 481; n Study 2 = 391) completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, the Body Shape Questionnaire-34, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (Study 1) and the Drive for Thinness Scale and the Drive for Muscularity Scale (Study 2), as well as the SM-F. Overall, the SM-F demonstrated sound content, concurrent, and convergent validity for actual and desired body fat, actual and desired muscularity, and their respective discrepancy scores

Disentangling the contributions of agentic, antagonistic, and neurotic narcissism to drive for thinness and drive for muscularity

Body image concerns revolving around body ideals (thin ideal, muscular ideal) are widespread among women. Whereas a stronger preoccupation with ideal physical appearance is often assumed for narcissistic women, previous empirical findings have been mixed. Following a tripartite structure of agentic, antagonistic, and neurotic narcissism facets, we reexamined whether trait narcissism predicted drive for thinness and drive for muscularity. We further explored the role of importance of appearance as a mediator and moderator of the relation between narcissism and body image concerns. Latent structural equation modeling was applied to self-report data from two independent nonclinical female samples (NSample1 = 224, NSample2 = 342). Results underlined the importance of distinguishing between narcissism facets: Neurotic (but not agentic or antagonistic) narcissism uniquely predicted drive for thinness and drive for muscularity. Importance of appearance mediated but did not robustly moderate these relations. Hence, neurotic narcissistic women (characterized by hypersensitivity, shame, and a fragile self-esteem) are particularly prone to body image concerns. This vulnerability seems partly driven by how much importance they ascribe to their appearance. Future work might build on these insights to further unravel the processes linking neurotic narcissism to body image concerns and how these can be targeted in practical interventions.