• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.656-668
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• 2018

The main object of this study was to understand the body image and body management behavior associated with desiring a thinner and more muscular body. The present study examined whether the drives for thinness and muscularity occur concurrently for both male and female college students, and whether there are gender differences. Moreover, the effects of objectified body consciousness on drive for thinness and drive for muscularity were investigated. A self-administered survey was conducted and a total of 390 data were used for data analysis. Participants included 197 male college students and 193 female students. Results indicated that male students reported significantly lower drive for thinness and higher drive for muscularity than female students. However, the drives for thinness and muscularity were significantly correlated for both male and female college students, and they reported discrepancies between their BMI and self-perceived weight and muscle mass. Findings supported the significant effects of objected body consciousness on the drives for thinness and muscularity for both male and females. Sub-dimensions of objectified body consciousness had differential effects on drive for thinness and muscularity. Specifically, body surveillance and body shame significantly influenced male and female students' drive for thinness, while their control belief did not have significant effects on their drive for thinness. Additionally, body shame emerged as significant unique predictor of drive for muscularity. In terms of gender comparisons, while the effect of body shame was the strongest for the males, the effect of surveillance was as strong as that of body shame for the females.