(PS7-16) Cognitive Restraint and Body Dissatisfaction Are More Strongly Related to Muscle Building Behaviors for Men Than Women

Muscle building behaviors are an understudied eating pathology symptom and are on the rise, particularly among men, who tend to endorse them more frequently than women. However, little is known about the cognitive eating disorder (ED) correlates that may underlie muscle building behaviors or whether these associations differ by gender. An understanding of such correlates is critical to inform the development or adaptation of interventions tailored by gender. We therefore aimed to examine associations between cognitive ED symptoms and muscle building behaviors, and whether these associations differ between men and women. In a sample of college students, we investigated cross-sectional associations between two core cognitive ED symptoms, body dissatisfaction and cognitive restraint, with muscle building behaviors, and whether binary gender moderated these associations. Participants [N = 269; 75.5% female, 67.1% White, 16.2% Asian, 4% Black; 9% Hispanic/Latino); mean (SD) age = 19.27 (1.32)] completed online questionnaires as part of a larger study. Measures included the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (EPSI) Muscle Building Behaviors, Cognitive Restraint, and Body Dissatisfaction subscales and self-reported weight/height to calculate body mass index (BMI). Data were analyzed using two separate linear regression models in which EPSI Muscle Building Behaviors was entered as the outcome variable. In Model 1, EPSI Body Dissatisfaction, BMI, gender, and the interaction term of EPSI Body Dissatisfaction by gender were entered as predictors. In Model 2, EPSI Cognitive Restraint, BMI, gender, and the interaction term of EPSI Cognitive Restraint by gender were entered as predictors. Results of Model 1 indicated that muscle building behaviors were significantly and independently associated with body dissatisfaction (β = 0.60, p < .001) and gender (β = -0.21, p < .05), and the association between muscle building and body dissatisfaction was stronger for men (β = -0.42, p < .05). Results of Model 2 indicated that muscle building behaviors were significantly and independently associated with cognitive restraint (β = 0.72, p < .001) but not gender (β = 0.08, p > .05). However, the association between muscle building and cognitive restraint was stronger for men (β = -0.60, p < .001). Findings suggest that cognitive restraint and body dissatisfaction may be important prevention and intervention targets for maladaptive muscle building behaviors, particularly among men. Longitudinal research is needed to better understand the development of these associations over time.