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Published on: May 4, 2020
Cognitive inflexibility moderates the association between drive for muscularity and dysfunctional exercise in men
McKenzie L Miller1, Christina M Sanzari2, Julia M Hormes2
1University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12206, United States of America; Albany Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Albany, NY 12208, United States of America.
Objective:
Drive for muscularity, a concern with meeting societal standards for a highly muscular physique, is a rising concern among men. Dysfunctional exercise is associated with drive for muscularity and leads to a myriad of negative physical and psychosocial outcomes. Cognitive inflexibility, a difficulty adapting to changing circumstances, is a transdiagnostic mechanism across psychiatric conditions, including dysfunctional exercise. This study evaluated cognitive inflexibility as a moderator of the relationship between drive for muscularity and dysfunctional exercise in men.
Methods:
Undergraduate men (n = 243, 53.5% White) completed self-report measures assessing drive for muscularity, dysfunctional exercise, and general and domain-specific cognitive inflexibility. Moderation analyses assessed whether cognitive inflexibility moderated the relationship between drive for muscularity and dysfunctional exercise.
Results:
Cognitive inflexibility specific to food/exercise and weight/shape moderated the relationship between drive for muscularity behaviors and dysfunctional exercise (R2 = 0.01, 0.03 respectively). General cognitive inflexibility did not moderate the relationship. Attitudes (r(237) = 0.25, p < .001) and behaviors (r(237) = 0.53, p < .001) related to a drive for muscularity were positively associated with dysfunctional exercise.
Conclusion:
Results suggest that domain-specific cognitive inflexibility amplifies the risk of dysfunctional exercise in men with a high drive for muscularity. Findings suggest that interventions targeting cognitive inflexibility may help mitigate the risk of problematic exercise in this population.
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