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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Skeletal Muscle Gender Dimorphism from Proteomics
Published on: December 14, 2011
Gaming magazines and the drive for muscularity in preadolescent boys: a longitudinal examination
Kristen Harrison1, Bradley J Bond
1Department of Speech Communication, 244 Lincoln Hall, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, United States. krishar@uiuc.edu
Abstract:
The development of a drive for muscularity among boys has been linked to various cultural influences, one of which is exposure to mass media depicting the muscular male body ideal. We sought to determine whether self-reported exposure to four ideal-body magazine genres (health/fitness, fashion, sports, and gaming) predicted an increased drive for muscularity 1 year later. A sample of 104 Black and 77 White preadolescent boys (mean age 8.77) participated in a 2-wave longitudinal panel study. Controlling Wave 1 grade, perceived thinness/adiposity, and drive for muscularity, exposure to video gaming magazines predicted a significant increase in Wave 2 drive for muscularity, but only for White boys. Discussion calls for the inclusion of video gaming magazine exposure measures in future research on print media and male body ideals, along with empirical exploration of racial themes in gaming magazines.
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