title: Relationships among muscle dysmorphia characteristics, body image quality of life, and coping in males.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among bodybuilding dependence, muscle satisfaction, body image-related quality of life and body image-related coping strategies, and test the hypothesis that muscle dysmorphia characteristics may predict quality of life via coping strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (294 males, Mage=20.5 years, SD=3.1) participated in a cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed questionnaires assessing muscle satisfaction, bodybuilding dependence, body image-related quality of life and body image-related coping.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quality of life was correlated positively with muscle satisfaction and bodybuilding dependence but negatively with body image coping (P<0.05). Body image coping was correlated positively with bodybuilding dependence and negatively with muscle satisfaction (P<0.05). Mediation analysis found that bodybuilding dependence and muscle satisfaction predicted quality of life both directly and indirectly via body image coping strategies (as evidenced by the bias corrected and accelerated bootstrapped confidence intervals).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide preliminary evidence regarding the ways that muscularity concerns might influence body image-related quality of life.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom. Electronic address: d.a.tod@ljmu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tod
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Worcester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Appearance; Body image; Resistance training; Self-assessment; Size perception; Weight training