Scale-Description

The Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS-15) is a self-report scale used to measure an individual’s intense desire to increase their muscle mass. It was developed to capture the psychological and behavioral aspects of striving for greater muscularity, a condition often associated with eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, and excessive physical exercise.

Scale Characteristics

Number of items: 15 questions.
Structure: The scale consists of items related to thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connected to the desire for increased muscularity.
Response format: Each item is rated on a Likert scale, usually 6 points, where participants score from “1” (Strongly disagree) to “6” (Strongly agree).
The scale includes both cognitive and behavioral components:
Cognitive components: Refer to thoughts and beliefs about the ideal muscular physique.
Behavioral components: Include actions such as diet and physical exercise aimed at increasing muscle mass.

Data Analysis and Usage

Data from the DMS-15 can be analyzed in various ways, depending on the research purpose. Some key approaches to analysis include:
Reliability: The reliability of the scale is measured through Cronbach’s alpha, which indicates the internal consistency of the scale. Typically, values above 0.70 are considered acceptable.
Factor Analysis: Factor analysis can be used to examine the dimensional structure of the scale and identify different facets of the drive for muscularity.
Correlations: The scale can be correlated with other variables such as physical activity levels, diet, eating disorders, and body dissatisfaction.
Group Comparisons: It is often used to compare different population groups (e.g., men vs. women, athletes vs. non-athletes).

Purpose

The primary purpose of the DMS-15 is to measure the level of desire for increased muscularity in various populations and to assess the psychological and behavioral aspects associated with this desire. The scale allows researchers to understand the relationships between muscularity concerns, body image, and health-related issues (such as the use of supplements or anabolic steroids).

Scoring

Scoring for the DMS-15 can be done in several ways:
Total score: Responses are summed to yield a total score for each individual.
Subscale scores: If factor analysis is used, different dimensions such as cognitive and behavioral aspects of the drive for muscularity can be scored separately.
Scores can also be compared to norms from previous studies, depending on the population to which the scale is applied.

References

McCreary, D. R., Saucier, D. M., & Courtenay, W. H. (2004). The Drive for Muscularity and Masculinity: Testing the Associations Among Gender-Role Traits, Behaviors, Attitudes, and Conflict. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 5(2), 83-94.