Associations between muscularity-oriented social media content and muscle dysmorphia among boys and men

This study aimed to determine whether viewing muscularity-oriented social media content was associated with muscle dysmorphia among a sample of boys and men from Canada and the United States. Data from the Study of Boys and Men (2024; N = 1553) were analyzed. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations between viewing content with 1) muscular bodies, 2) muscle-building dietary supplements (e.g., whey protein), and 3) muscle-building drugs (e.g., anabolic-androgenic steroids) on social media and probable muscle dysmorphia. Findings revealed strong and positive associations between viewing muscularity-oriented social media content and probable muscle dysmorphia. Specifically, greater frequency of viewing content related to muscular bodies, muscle-building dietary supplements, and muscle-building drugs were all associated with having probable muscle dysmorphia, independent of total time spent on social media. The findings from this study underscore the need for more research to understand the directionality and risks associated with specific social media content among boys and men. Greater media and health literacy is needed for boys and men to support appropriate social media use.