Drive for muscularity and sexual orientation: Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS) in straight and gay men

This research aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS; McCreary & Sasse, 2000) among Italian men, distinguishing between heterosexual and gay men. Participants were 355, of whom 212 heterosexuals and 143 gays. A two-factor solution with a second order latent factor showed a good fit to the data for both the whole sample and for the two groups separately. The Muscle-oriented body image and the Muscle-oriented behavior dimensions, which loaded on a Drive for muscularity second order factor, were confirmed. The Italian version of the DMS presented good reliability and concurrent validity. Gay men reported higher preoccupation with their muscle-oriented body image, greater drive for muscularity and higher levels of athletic internalization than heterosexuals, while sexual orientation did not influence the behavioral domain of the drive for muscularity. This study provides evidence for the validity of the DMS with Italian speaking men, independently of their sexual orientation. Although the use of both subscales appears desirable in order to better understand men’s drive for muscularity, a global DMS score might be used as well, depending on research or intervention aims