EPV938
Beyond a unidimensional perspective: A biopsychosocial model for identifying the distinct predictors of muscle dysmorphic disorder dimensions in men engaged in recreational sports activities
A. Dubinsky 1,*, M. Kagan 1
1School of Social Work, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
Introduction: Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder (MDD) is a complex mental condition most commonly observed in men, characterized by a distorted perception and excessive preoccupation with muscularity and body size. MDD is formally recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as a specifier of Body Dysmorphic Disorder, which falls under the Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders category, highlighting its compulsive and intrusive nature (APA, 2022). While previous research has primarily treated MDD as a unidimensional construct, a multidimensional approach is necessary to identify distinct predictors of its dimensions: drive for size, appearance intolerance, and functional impairment
Objectives: This study employed a biopsychosocial framework to examine how bio-physiological (age, body mass index-BMI), psychological (self-esteem, self-compassion), and socioenvironmentally shaped (exercise identity) factors differentially explain the three dimensions of MDD among men engaged in recreational sports activities.
Methods: A convenience sample of 200 Israeli men (Mage = 39.46, SD = 12.46) who engage in recreational sports activities completed structured self-report questionaries.
Results: Drive for size was exclusively predicted by bio-physiological factors, with younger men and those with lower BMI reporting higher levels of drive for size. Appearance intolerance was associated with higher BMI and lower self-esteem and self-compassion. Functional impairment was predicted by self-compassion and by exercise identity.
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Conclusions: Conclusion: This study highlights the distinct biopsychosocial mechanisms underlying MDD dimensions, emphasizing the need for dimension-specific theoretical and practical approaches. These insights may contribute to the refinement of theoretical models and inform targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
Disclosure of Interest: None Declared