Research Article

The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Effect of Muscle Dysmorphia on Exercise Dependence

Number: 30 August 31, 2026
TR EN

The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Effect of Muscle Dysmorphia on Exercise Dependence

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the mediating role of self-esteem in the effect of muscle dysmorphia on exercise dependence in young men.

Method: This descriptive study was conducted with 500 male individuals aged 18-30 years living in Turkey. Data were collected using the "Descriptive Information Form", the "Muscle Dysmorphia Disorder Inventory", the "Exercise Dependence Scale" and the "Rosenberg Scale of Self-esteem".

Results: The effect of muscle dysmorphia on exercise dependence was found to be significant and positive. The effect of self-esteem level on exercise dependence was found to be significant and negative. It was determined that the effect of "Muscle Dysmorphia Inventory" on " Exercise Dependence Scale " was realized through the variable " Rosenberg Scale of Self-esteem" (B=-0.08, β=-0.03, SH=0.02, LLCI=-0.13, ULCI=-0.04). This finding shows that each unit increase in the " Muscle Dysmorphia Disorder Inventory" score causes a 0.08 unit decrease in the "Exercise Dependence Scale" score through the "Rosenberg Scale of Self-esteem", in other words, there is a mediation effect.

Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that high levels of muscle dysmorphia increased the risk of exercise dependence in young men, but self-esteem had a decreasing role on this negative effect.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was obtained from Üsküdar University Ethics Committee for this study (2024-61351342/020-132).

References

  1. 1. Grogan S. Body Image: Understanding Body Dissatisfaction in Men, Women and Children. 3rd ed. Routledge, 2017.
  2. 2. Thompson JK, Burke NL, Krawczyk R. Measurement of body image in adolescence and adulthood. In: Cash TF, ed. Encyclopedia of Body Image and Human Appearance, 2012.
  3. 3. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. 2013.
  4. 4. Selvi K. I am not muscular enough, I should develop my muscles more: A detailed look at muscle dysmorphia. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 2023;7(2):271-290.
  5. 5. Bo S, Zoccali R, Ponzo V, et al. University courses, eating problems and muscle dysmorphia: Are there any associations? Journal of Translational Medicine. 2014;12(1):221. doi: 10.1186/s12967-014-0221-2.
  6. 6. Oktan V, Şahin M. Examination of the relationship between the body image and self-esteem of female adolescents. Journal of Human Sciences. 2010;7(2):543-546.
  7. 7. Mitchison D, Mond J, Griffiths S, et al. Prevalence of muscle dysmorphia in adolescents: findings from the EveryBODY study. Psychol Med. 2022;52(14):3142-3149.
  8. 8. Adams JM. Understanding exercise dependence. J Contemp Psychother. 2009;39:231-240.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Mental Health Nursing

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

August 31, 2026

Publication Date

August 31, 2026

Submission Date

March 19, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 29, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 30

APA
Akkurt Yalçıntürk, A., Yılmaz, A. K., & Karadaş, İ. İ. (2026). The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Effect of Muscle Dysmorphia on Exercise Dependence. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Health Sciences, 30, 564-577. https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.1661067
AMA
1.Akkurt Yalçıntürk A, Yılmaz AK, Karadaş İİ. The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Effect of Muscle Dysmorphia on Exercise Dependence. IGUSABDER. 2026;(30):564-577. doi:10.38079/igusabder.1661067
Chicago
Akkurt Yalçıntürk, Aydan, Ahmet Kamil Yılmaz, and İrem İclal Karadaş. 2026. “The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Effect of Muscle Dysmorphia on Exercise Dependence”. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Health Sciences, nos. 30: 564-77. https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.1661067.
EndNote
Akkurt Yalçıntürk A, Yılmaz AK, Karadaş İİ (August 1, 2026) The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Effect of Muscle Dysmorphia on Exercise Dependence. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Health Sciences 30 564–577.
IEEE
[1]A. Akkurt Yalçıntürk, A. K. Yılmaz, and İ. İ. Karadaş, “The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Effect of Muscle Dysmorphia on Exercise Dependence”, IGUSABDER, no. 30, pp. 564–577, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.38079/igusabder.1661067.
ISNAD
Akkurt Yalçıntürk, Aydan - Yılmaz, Ahmet Kamil - Karadaş, İrem İclal. “The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Effect of Muscle Dysmorphia on Exercise Dependence”. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Health Sciences. 30 (August 1, 2026): 564-577. https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.1661067.
JAMA
1.Akkurt Yalçıntürk A, Yılmaz AK, Karadaş İİ. The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Effect of Muscle Dysmorphia on Exercise Dependence. IGUSABDER. 2026;:564–577.
MLA
Akkurt Yalçıntürk, Aydan, et al. “The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Effect of Muscle Dysmorphia on Exercise Dependence”. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Health Sciences, no. 30, Aug. 2026, pp. 564-77, doi:10.38079/igusabder.1661067.
Vancouver
1.Aydan Akkurt Yalçıntürk, Ahmet Kamil Yılmaz, İrem İclal Karadaş. The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Effect of Muscle Dysmorphia on Exercise Dependence. IGUSABDER. 2026 Aug. 1;(30):564-77. doi:10.38079/igusabder.1661067

 Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)