Adherence to Cultural Values and the Internalization of Sociocultural Appearance Ideals are Associated with Exercise Dependence Symptoms in Asian/Asian American Men

Abstract This study examined sociocultural correlates of exercise dependence symptoms (EDSX) in young Asian/Asian American men. We hypothesized that greater adherence to Asian cultural values would be positively associated with EDSX and that the internalization of muscularity and thinness appearance ideals would exacerbate this link. Participants included 266 Asian/Asian American men (18-30y, Mage=24.4±3.6y; MBMI=24.2±5kg/m2) enrolled in a larger study examining disordered eating and body image concerns in ethnically/racially diverse young men. Participants completed an online survey that assessed demographics, adherence to Asian values, internalization of muscularity and thinness appearance ideals, and EDSX. After adjusting for BMI, income, education, and presence of a psychiatric diagnosis, a linear regression model indicated that adherence to Asian values was significantly and positively associated with EDSX (B = 12.13, p = .036). Neither internalization of muscularity (p = .812) nor thinness (p = .967) appearance ideals moderated this association. However, independently, both internalization of muscularity (B = 10.93, p