The Muscularity Bias Internalization Scale: Development and initial validation in Chinese adult men

Abstract

The present study developed the Muscularity Bias Internalization Scale (MBIS), a measure of muscularity bias internalization, which assesses the extent to which an individual endorses muscularity-based stereotypes and engages in negative self-evaluations due to muscularity. In Study 1, a pool of candidate items was developed. By using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a sample of 300 Chinese adult men (M_age = 29.98 years, SD = 7.81), 14 items from the item pool were retained. The 14-item MBIS contained three factors. In Study 2, the second sample of 300 Chinese adult men (M_age = 29.50 years, SD = 7.50) was used to confirm the factor structure of the MBIS, as well as to examine its reliability and validity. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) further confirmed the three-factor structure of the MBIS with a good model fit. The MBIS showed high internal consistency reliability and high two-week test-retest reliability. The MBIS also showed good construct validity with measures of drive for muscularity, muscularity-oriented disordered eating, and muscle dysmorphia symptoms. The newly developed MBIS may help understand the role of muscularity bias internalization in the development and maintenance of muscularity-oriented body image and muscularity-oriented disordered eating.

HE Jinbo

Assistant Professor in Applied Psychology

My research interests include the mental health of children and adolescents, obesity, eating behaviors, eating disorders, body image, and various advanced quantitative research methods (e.g., structural equation modeling, latent growth curve modeling, finite mixture modeling, meta-analysis).

TANG Chanyuan

Former Graduate Advisee

TANG Chanyuan is a research assistant in applied psychology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, working under Prof. HE Jinbo’s supervision.

SONG Jianwen

PhD Student in Educational Psychology

CUI Tianxiang

PhD Student in Psychology

My research interests include body image, eating behaviors, quantitative methods in psychology, and music psychology.

CUI Shuqi

PhD Student in Applied Psychology

CUI Shuqi (崔舒淇) is a PhD student in applied psychology under Prof. HE Jinbo’s supervision.

REN Yaoxiang

Research Assistant in Applied Psychology, Former Graduate Advisee

REN Yaoxiang is a graduate student in applied psychology under Prof. HE Jinbo’s supervision.