Validity and factor structure of the bodybuilding dependence scale

• Published in: British journal of sports medicine Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 177 - 181
• Main Authors: Smith, D, Hale, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine 01.04.2004; BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Adult; BDS; Body Image; Bodybuilding; bodybuilding dependence scale; CFI; comparative fit index; Competitive Behavior; Compulsive Behavior - diagnosis; Dependency (Psychology); EDQ; exercise dependence; exercise dependence questionnaire; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Female; Gender differences; Human subjects; Humans; Male; MDI; Measurement; Mental disorders; muscle dysmorphia; muscle dysmorphia inventory; Original; Physical growth; Psychological aspects; Psychological Tests; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results; Sports medicine; SRMR; standardised root mean square residual; Testing; Validity; Weight Lifting - psychology; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 0306-3674; 1473-0480
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.2002.003269

Objectives: To investigate the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the bodybuilding dependence scale and to investigate differences in bodybuilding dependence between men and women and competitive and non-competitive bodybuilders. Methods: Seventy two male competitive bodybuilders, 63 female competitive bodybuilders, 87 male non-competitive bodybuilders, and 63 non-competitive female bodybuilders completed the bodybuilding dependence scale (BDS), the exercise dependence questionnaire (EDQ), and the muscle dysmorphia inventory (MDI). Results: Confirmatory factor analysis of the BDS supported a three factor model of bodybuilding dependence, consisting of social dependence, training dependence, and mastery dependence (Q  =  3.16, CFI  =  0.98, SRMR  =  0.04). Internal reliability of all three subscales was high (Cronbach’s α  =  0.92, 0.92, and 0.93 respectively). Significant (p<0.001) and moderate correlations were found between all BDS and MDI subscales, and between five of the eight EDQ subscales. A multivariate analysis of covariance, with univariate F tests and Tukey HSD tests, revealed that both male and female competitive bodybuilders scored significantly (p<0.05) higher on all three BDS subscales than the male and female non-competitive bodybuilders. However, there were no significant sex differences on any of the BDS subscales (p>0.05). Conclusion: The three factor BDS appears to be a reliable and valid measure of bodybuilding dependence. Symptoms of bodybuilding dependence are more prevalent in competitive bodybuilders than non-competitive ones, but there are no significant sex differences in bodybuilding dependence.