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Social Physique Anxiety and Muscularity and Appearance Cognitions in College Men

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Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine the ability of appearance related cognitions and muscularity perceptions to predict social physique anxiety (SPA) in male college students (N = 98). Descriptive results indicate that participants experienced moderate SPA, and, in general, had a positive set of body image cognitions. Correlations reveal a large and significant relationship between SPA and appearance evaluation. Multiple regression results indicate that (after controlling for percent body fat and lean body mass) both appearance and muscularity related cognitions account for 60% of the variance in SPA. More specifically, based on the standardized beta weights, appearance evaluation and positive attributes of muscularity make the most significant contributions to predicting SPA. Our findings suggest that the recent heightened attention to the value of muscularity to young men should not cause practitioners or researchers to overlook the value that men place on global appearance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Studies, Wayne State University, 266 Matthaei Building, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Jeffrey J. Martin, Amy Kliber & Mariane Fahlman

  2. Department of Education, Arizona State University at the Polytechnic Campus, 7001 E. Williams Field Rd. Bldg. 140, Mesa, AZ, 85212, USA

    Pamela Hodges Kulinna

Authors
  1. Jeffrey J. Martin
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  2. Amy Kliber
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  3. Pamela Hodges Kulinna
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  4. Mariane Fahlman
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Correspondence to Jeffrey J. Martin.

Additional information

This article was based on the second author’s Masters Thesis conducted under the guidance of the first author.

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Martin, J.J., Kliber, A., Kulinna, P.H. et al. Social Physique Anxiety and Muscularity and Appearance Cognitions in College Men. Sex Roles 55, 151–158 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-006-9069-0

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