The Muscularity Bias Internalization Scale: Development and initial validation in Chinese adult men

Psychometric properties of the Arabic versions of the Three-Item Short Form of the modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-3) and the Muscularity Bias Internalization Scale (MBIS)

“…Even though WBI was initially thought to only affect specific groups with overweight/obesity, recent research has shown that individuals can experience WBI regardless of their weight status [ 8 – 10 ]. In addition to experiencing WBI, individuals may also internalize muscularity-based stereotypes and subsequent self-devaluation because of one’s muscularity, which is referred to as muscularity bias internalization (MBI) [ 11 ]. MBI is different from drive for muscularity, as the latter involves attitudes and behaviors reflecting one’s desire to have a muscular body [ 12 ], whereas MBI occurs when the person engages in negative self-evaluations and internalizes negative muscle-based beliefs because of their muscle mass [ 11 ].…”

“…In addition to experiencing WBI, individuals may also internalize muscularity-based stereotypes and subsequent self-devaluation because of one’s muscularity, which is referred to as muscularity bias internalization (MBI) [ 11 ]. MBI is different from drive for muscularity, as the latter involves attitudes and behaviors reflecting one’s desire to have a muscular body [ 12 ], whereas MBI occurs when the person engages in negative self-evaluations and internalizes negative muscle-based beliefs because of their muscle mass [ 11 ]. Therefore, MBI has been proposed as “a precursor of drive for muscularity” [ 11 ], with individuals exhibiting higher MBI being expected to also have higher drive for muscularity.…”

“…WBI has also been found to be linked to poor physical health [ 17 , 18 ], as well as negative psychological consequences, including anxiety, stress, depression, negative affect, maladaptive coping responses, and low self-esteem [ 3 , 5 , 7 , 14 , 19 , 20 ]. Similarly, MBI was demonstrated to correlate with a range of negative mental health outcomes, such as psychosocial impairment, more body dissatisfaction, less body appreciation, thinness-oriented disordered eating symptoms, and muscle dysmorphic disorder symptoms [ 11 ]. In addition, MBI was found to significantly correlate with muscularity-oriented disordered eating symptoms, above and beyond the effects of drive for muscularity [ 11 ].…”

“…Similarly, MBI was demonstrated to correlate with a range of negative mental health outcomes, such as psychosocial impairment, more body dissatisfaction, less body appreciation, thinness-oriented disordered eating symptoms, and muscle dysmorphic disorder symptoms [ 11 ]. In addition, MBI was found to significantly correlate with muscularity-oriented disordered eating symptoms, above and beyond the effects of drive for muscularity [ 11 ]. Overall, both WBI and MBI seem to be pervasive and substantially detrimental for health.…”

“…the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire‐4–Revised [SATAQ‐4R]; [ 30 ]). In 2022, He et al developed a new measure of MBI, the Muscularity Bias Internalization Scale (MBIS; [ 11 ]); which is composed 14 items and three-factors. The MBIS showed adequate psychometric qualities in Chinese adult men in terms of internal consistency (categorical ω values ranging from 0.76 to 0.99 for the total score and all three sub-scores), construct validity and test–retest reliability.…”