Cognitive inflexibility amplifies risk of disordered exercise in men

A study of undergraduate male students found that cognitive inflexibility related to body weight, shape, and exercise moderates the link between drive for muscularity and dysfunctional exercise. In other words, men who were highly inflexible about their exercise and body image were more likely to engage in dysfunctional exercise when they also had a strong drive for muscularity. The research was published in Eating Behaviors.

The drive for muscularity is an individual’s desire to build muscle and achieve a lean, muscular physique. It is influenced by cultural ideals that associate muscularity with masculinity, strength, and attractiveness. This drive can motivate healthy behaviors such as regular exercise and balanced nutrition. However, in some cases, it can also lead to excessive workout routines, strict diets, and the use of performance-enhancing substances. High levels of drive for muscularity are linked to body dissatisfaction and conditions such as muscle dysmorphia. This is especially common among adolescent and young adult males.

The lead author, McKenzie L. Miller, and her colleagues sought to explore the role of cognitive inflexibility in the relationship between disordered exercise and the drive for muscularity in men. They hypothesized that the drive for muscularity would be associated with dysfunctional exercise in men who were highly inflexible about their body weight, shape, food, and exercise. Cognitive inflexibility is defined as difficulty adapting thoughts or behavior when faced with changes in goals, rules, or environmental demands.

The study included 243 male undergraduate students with an average age of 19 years. Of these, 54% identified as White, and 94% identified as heterosexual. Participants completed an online survey administered via Qualtrics, including questionnaires on drive for muscularity (using the Drive for Muscularity Scale), cognitive flexibility (using the Eating Disorder Flexibility Index Questionnaire), and dysfunctional exercise (using the Exercise Dependence Scale–21).

Results showed that participants with higher cognitive inflexibility were more prone to dysfunctional exercise. Here, “dysfunctional exercise” refers to patterns of excessive or rigid exercise behavior — for example, training despite injury, inability to adjust routines despite physical demands, or preoccupation with exercise to the detriment of well‑being.

More specifically, cognitive inflexibility related to food, exercise, and body weight or shape (but not general cognitive inflexibility) strengthened the link between drive for muscularity and dysfunctional exercise. In other words, participants who were highly inflexible about their body and exercise habits were more likely to exhibit dysfunctional exercise when also highly driven by muscularity.

“Results suggest that domain‑specific cognitive inflexibility amplifies the risk of dysfunctional exercise in men with a strong drive for muscularity. Findings point to the potential benefits of interventions targeting cognitive inflexibility to help mitigate this risk,” the authors concluded.

The study provides valuable insights into the role of cognitive inflexibility in increasing vulnerability to disordered exercise behavior. However, its cross‑sectional design means that it cannot confirm a cause‑and‑effect relationship. Additionally, because the sample comprised exclusively male undergraduate students, the findings may not generalize to other demographic groups.

The paper, “Cognitive inflexibility moderates the association between drive for muscularity and dysfunctional exercise in men,” was authored by McKenzie L. Miller, Christina M. Sanzari, and Julia M. Hormes.