Muscle dysmorphia and attachment styles in men

The concept of masculinity is slowly being redefined. One trait of masculinity that has proven to be inextricable is muscularity. A belief that one is insufficiently muscular is an emblematic trait of muscle dysmorphia. The etiology of this disorder is currently poorly understood. This study seeks to expand on previous research on muscle dysmorphia and attachment styles by expanding the scope to a wider population and considering domains of attachment. Statistical analysis of participants of this study (N = 265) demonstrated that there were significant correlations for body image concerns, but not behaviors, related to muscle dysmorphia and nearly all domains of attachment styles. Additionally, romantic relationship status, age, exercise frequency and intent to enter bodybuilding competitions all influenced the number of correlations to attachment domains. In conclusion, there may be a subset of individuals who do not have muscle dysmorphic behaviors that have been overlooked in the literature