(PS7-3) Toxic Masculinity: Masculine Behaviors, Emotion Regulation, and Eating Disorder Symptoms in Men

Men are historically underrepresented in the eating disorder literature (Coopey & Johnson, 2020). To that end, cognitive-behavioral models of eating pathology may not account for risk factors associated with higher-order constructs, such as masculinity. While emotion regulation (ER) difficulties are considered a transdiagnostic risk factor for a myriad of psychological concerns, including eating disorders, (Ruscitt et al, 2019) less is known on the integration of the emotion dysregulation model with social and gendered norms such as traditional masculine behaviors (MBs) for men, such that difficulties in describing and regulating emotions are associated with greater eating pathology and internalization of body-ideals This exploratory analysis aims to examine how endorsement of traditionally MBs (e.g., exaggerated self-reliance) may produce indirect effects on the relation between global ER difficulties, disordered eating attitudes/cognitions, and internalized body-ideals. Preliminary analyses consist of 383 undergraduate (N=123) and community (N=240) men. ER difficulties were assessed using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and a global score was used for analyses. Endorsement of MBs was measured by a total score from the Masculine Behavior Scale (MBS). ED symptoms were measured with the Eating Disorder Examination for Men (EDAM), which captures eating, shape, and weight concerns. All subscales were used to capture eating pathology (EDAM-Binge eating and EDAM-Disordered eating) and body image concerns (EDAM-Muscular dysphoria, EDAM-Body dissatisfaction). Internalization of thin and muscular ideals were measured with the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4th Edition-Revised (SATAQ4R-Thin and SATAQ4R-Muscular). Preliminary analyses suggest significant relations between MBS-Self reliance and global disordered eating (r=.20, p< .05) and binge eating (r=.19, p< .05), such that greater endorsement of self-reliance was related to greater disordered and binge eating. MBS-success dedication was positively related to muscular dysphoria symptoms (r=.29, p< .05). All disordered eating outcomes and body-image concerns, except for internalization of thin-ideal, were positively and significantly related to greater endorsement of global ER difficulties (p’s < .05). After data collection completes in April 2024, PROCESS MACRO will be used to further examine MBs facets (e.g., success dedication) as they relate to global ER difficulties, eating pathology, and body-image ideals. It is hypothesized that MBs will strengthen the relation between global ER difficulties and eating pathology and as well as ER difficulties and body-image ideals. Body Mass Index (BMI) and age will be added as covariates in all models. While these data are limited in their cross-sectional nature, results may help inform future longitudinal studies examining how MBs and emotion regulation difficulties may implicate eating cognitions and attitudes in men.