The drive for muscularity continues to be a prominent concern among adolescent boys. However, it is unknown how gender compatibility (gender typicality and gender contentedness) relates to this pursuit. The present study sought to examine the link between gender compatibility and drive for muscularity among male adolescents, and whether this is partially accounted for by emotion regulation difficulties. Participants were 903 male adolescents, aged 11-19 years, who completed self-report measures as part of the EveryBODY study. Using path analysis, a proposed mediation model was assessed, testing an indirect pathway of gender compatibility and drive for muscularity through emotion regulation difficulties. Findings showed an indirect pathway between gender compatibility and drive for muscularity through emotion regulation difficulties. That is, boys who were more content with their male gender and believed they were typical of their gender reported fewer emotion regulation difficulties and, in turn, exhibited a lower drive for muscularity. Findings support theoretical perspectives integrating masculinity and muscularity in boys, in that those who feel less compatible with their masculinity could be susceptible to developing a greater drive for muscularity to regulate distress deriving from perceptions of not being sufficiently masculine. This study sets the groundwork for future longitudinal studies.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	adolescence, body image concerns, drive for muscularity, emotion regulation difficulties, gender contentedness, gender typicality
Research Division:	Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Research Group:	Paediatrics
Research Field:	Adolescent health
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health)
Objective Field:	Adolescent health
UTAS Author:	Mond, J (Dr Jon Mond)
ID Code:	151748
Year Published:	2021
Web of Science® Times Cited:	1
Deposited By:	UTAS Centre for Rural Health
Deposited On:	2022-08-04
Last Modified:	2022-09-16
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