Measuring the Drive for Muscularity: Factorial Validity of the Drive for Muscularity Scale in Men and Women

The current study assessed the construct validity of the Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS; D. R. McCreary & D. K. Sasse, 2000 ) using both lower and higher order exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In a sample of male and female high school and college students, lower order EFAs showed that a 2-factor structure emerged for men (muscularity attitudes and behaviors), but not for women, although 11 of the 15 items overlapped across gender. A higher order EFA using the male 2-factor structure revealed the presence of a single, higher order DMS factor in both genders. It is argued that the overall DMS score can be used in samples of both men and women. However, the attitude and behavioral DMS subscales can be used validly only in men.