title: Perceived social pressures and the internalization of the mesomorphic ideal: The role of drive for muscularity and autonomy in physically active men.
abstract: We examined if there were both direct and indirect relationships (via the drive for muscularity) between the perceived pressure to be muscular and internalization of the mesomorphic ideal, and if autonomy moderates these relationships in physically active men. A sample of 330 men, who were undergraduate students studying sport, completed the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2, the Mesomorphic Ideal Internalization subscale of the revised male version Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire, the Perceived Sociocultural Pressure Scale-Modified, and the Drive for Muscularity Scale Attitudes subscale. Perceived pressure predicted internalization directly, and indirectly through the drive for muscularity. The direct relationship between pressure and internalization was weaker under higher levels of autonomy. The indirect path, via drive for muscularity, was stronger under higher levels of autonomy. These results provide insights into why men vary in the degree to which they internalize pressure to develop a mesomorphic ideal, supporting further examination of autonomy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports & Exercise Science, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom. Electronic address: C.Edwards@worc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tod
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports & Exercise Science, University of Worcester, Worcester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gyozo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Markland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D004328:Drive; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles; D013008:Somatotypes / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Drive for muscularity; Internalization; Self-determination theory; Social pressure