Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS)

doi:10.1017/9781009398275.070

Chapter 69 - Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS)

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 November 2025

Donald R. McCreary

Edited by

Virginia Ramseyer Winter ,

Tracy L. Tylka and

Antoinette M. Landor

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Virginia Ramseyer Winter: Affiliation:
University of Minnesota
Tracy L. Tylka: Affiliation:
Ohio State University
Antoinette M. Landor: Affiliation:
University of Missouri

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Summary

The 15-item Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS; McCreary & Sasses, 2000) is a widely used, non-clinical measure of people’s desire to be more muscular and the actions they take to achieve that. The DMS can be administered online or in-person to adolescents or adults and is free to use in any setting. This chapter first discusses the development of the DMS and then provides evidence of its psychometrics. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses have shown that the DMS has a single-factor structure for both men and women, as well as a 2-factor structure for men. There is mixed evidence for structural invariance. Internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and incremental validity support the use of the DMS. Next, this chapter provides the DMS items in their entirety, instructions for administering the DMS to participants, the item response scale, and the scoring procedures. There are no abbreviated forms; however, links to many known translations are provided. Logistics of use, such as permissions, copyright, and contact information, are provided for readers.

Keywords

Drive for Muscularity Scale DMS items muscularity-related attitudes muscularity-related behaviors scale development psychometric evidence factor structure reliability validity administration scoring translations available

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Type: Chapter
Information: Handbook of Body Image-Related Measures , pp. 212 - 214

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009398275.070 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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References

Karazsia, B. T., Murnen, S. K., & Tylka, T. L. (2017). Is body dissatisfaction changing across time? A cross-temporal meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 143(3), 293–320. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000081.CrossRef Google Scholar

McCreary, D. R. (2007). The Drive for Muscularity Scale: Description, psychometrics, and research findings. In Thompson, J. K. & Cafri, G. (Eds.), The Muscular Ideal: Psychological, Social, and Medical Perspectives (pp. 87–106). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/11581-004.CrossRef Google Scholar

McCreary, D. R. (2011). Body image and muscularity. In Cash, T. F. & Smolak, L. (Eds.), Body Image: A Handbook of Science, Practice, and Prevention (pp. 198–205). Guilford Press.Google Scholar

McCreary, D.R. (2012). Muscularity and body image. In Cash, T. F. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Body Image and Human Appearance (Vol. 2, pp. 561–567). Academic Press.CrossRef Google Scholar

McCreary, D. R., & Sasse, D. K. (2000). Exploring the drive for muscularity in adolescent boys and girls. Journal of American College Health, 48, 297–304. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448480009596271.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Sicilia, A., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., Rodgers, R. F., Granero-Gallegos, A., Coco, G. L., Dion, J., et al. (2020). Cross-country measurement invariance and effects of sociodemographic factors on body weight and shape concern-related constructs in eight countries. Body Image, 35, 288–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.09.015.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

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