How do I value myself? An examination of shape, weight and muscularity-based self-esteem and eating disorder symptoms across men and women

The Transdiagnostic Model of Eating Disorders posits that individuals engaging in eating disorder (ED) behaviours base their self-esteem on shape and weight. However, muscularity-based self-esteem may be more relevant for men, who frequently present with muscularity concerns. Thus, I examined (1) shape-, weight-, and muscularity-based self-esteem, (2) associations between appearance-based self-esteem and global self-esteem, and (3) associations among shape-, weight-, and muscularity-based self-esteem and ED symptoms in men and women. Undergraduate students (N = 290; 50.3% cisgender women) completed questionnaires about self-esteem and ED symptoms. Men endorsed greater muscularity-based self-esteem than women, although women endorsed greater shape- and weight-based self-esteem than men. Further, associations between appearance-related self-esteem and global self-esteem did not vary across men, although shape-based self-esteem and global self-esteem were more strongly related than muscularity-based self-esteem and global self-esteem in women. Finally, gender did not moderate relationships between shape-, weight-, and muscularity-based self-esteem and ED symptoms.