Predictors of Social Physique Anxiety among Recreational Bodybuilders

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the contribution of gender, age, intensity of exercise, perfectionism, perfectionistic self-presentation and eating attitudes in the explanation dimensions of social physique anxiety (SPA) in a sample of 345 male and female gym exercisers. The results of this study indicate that the implemented model explains 21.3 % (p < .001) of the variance in Dissatisfaction with appearance and 48.4 % (p < .001) of the variance in Worry about appearance. Significant predictors of Dissatisfaction with appearance are intensity of exercise, discrepancy and eating attitudes, while significant predictors of Worry about appearance are gender, intensity of exercise, discrepancy, avoiding displays of imperfection and eating attitudes. In other words, recreational levels of exercise, negative perfectionism and negative attitudes towards food are strong predictors of social physique anxiety, while the tendency to hide our imperfections and female gender are only relevant when it comes toWorry about appearance.

Keywords

• perfectionism
• perfectionistic self-presentation
• social physique anxiety
• eating disorders
• bodybuilding