Muscle Dysmorphia in Gym-Going Men: The Role of Narcissism Vulnerability and Perfectionism

Objective: Muscle dysmorphia (MD) refers to a pathological preoccupation with the idea that one's body is not lean and muscular enough. Literature suggests that vulnerable facet of narcissism and perfectionism are strongly related to the risk of developing MD symptoms. However, until now, there is a paucity of research exploring their relationship, which is the primary aim of this study. Method: Participants were 135 gym-going Turkish males (Mage=24.99, SD=5.38; range=18-43 years) who completed a packet of self-report questionnaires. Results: Out of the sample, 51 (37.8%) were at risk for MD. A mediation model analysis revealed that vulnerable narcissism has an indirect relationship with the MD risk that is likely to be expressed via perfectionism. Conclusions: Our results showed a higher risk for MD among gym-going males and provided new insight into MD's understanding. It appears that a narcissistic flaw and perfectionistic traits may be particularly salient factors to consider in both preventing and treating MD symptomatology within high-risk populations.