Presenting a Conceptual Model of Body Management among Male Bodybuilding Athletes: A Sociological Perspective on Sport
Keywords:
Body management, male athletes, bodybuilding, body image, sociological model, grounded theory, Iran, structural equation modelingAbstract
Purpose: This study aimed to present a sociologically grounded conceptual model of body management among male bodybuilding athletes in Iran by exploring the causal, contextual, and psychological factors influencing their practices.
Methods and Materials: The research employed a mixed-methods approach. In the qualitative phase, grounded theory methodology following Strauss and Corbin’s paradigm was used. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 33 experts, including bodybuilding coaches and sports specialists across different provinces of Iran. The interviews were analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding using MaxQDA software. In the quantitative phase, a structured questionnaire was developed based on the qualitative findings and distributed to 367 level-3 certified male bodybuilding coaches nationwide. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25 and SmartPLS 3.2.7 to validate the model through structural equation modeling, assessing reliability, validity, R², Q², and the Goodness-of-Fit (GOF) index.
Findings: The qualitative phase revealed five major components: causal conditions (e.g., self-superiority, social comparison, and societal enthusiasm), intervening conditions (e.g., anxiety, fantasizing, and commercial influence), contextual conditions (e.g., family support, gym culture, and socioeconomic status), strategies (e.g., persistence or withdrawal based on satisfaction), and outcomes (ranging from discipline and social respect to injury and stereotyping). The quantitative phase confirmed high AVE and composite reliability for all constructs, with R² values indicating strong explanatory power for body management (R² = 0.738). The GOF index of 0.479 indicated excellent model fit, and Q² values confirmed strong predictive relevance for key constructs like familial encouragement and body idealization.
Conclusion: Body management among male bodybuilders is a multi-layered phenomenon influenced by psychological drives, cultural pressures, and social structures. The model developed provides a nuanced framework for understanding how athletic identity, appearance norms, and sociocultural dynamics intersect in shaping bodily practices.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ali Hejri (Author); Hassan Ghasemalipour; Bahram Ghadimi, Akbar Afarinesh Khaki (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
