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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Involvement in sex work is associated with muscle dysmorphia symptomatology among a sample of Canadian adolescents and young adults

Kyle T. Ganson https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3889-3716 A * , Nelson Pang A , Alexander Testa B , Rachel F. Rodgers C D , Jori Jones A and Jason M. Nagata E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

B Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.

C Department of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.

D Department of Psychiatric Emergency & Acute Care, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier, France.

E Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

* Correspondence to: kyle.ganson@utoronto.ca

Handling Editor: Ian Simms

Sexual Health - https://doi.org/10.1071/SH23157
Submitted: 22 August 2023  Accepted: 17 October 2023   Published online: 9 November 2023

© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between lifetime sex work involvement and muscle dysmorphia symptomatology.

Methods

Data from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviours (N = 912) were analysed. Multiple adjusted linear regression models were estimated with lifetime sex work involvement as the independent variable and muscle dysmorphia symptomatology, measured using the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory, as the dependent variable.

Results

Among the sample, 3.7% of participants reported engaging in lifetime sex work. Significant associations were found between self-reported lifetime sex work and greater total muscle dysmorphia symptomatology (B = 5.03, 95% CI 1.80, 8.26), greater Drive for Size symptomatology (B = 2.36, 95% CI 0.74–3.97), and greater Functional Impairment symptomatology (B = 2.11, 95% CI 0.54, 3.67), while adjusting for relevant sociodemographic variables.

Conclusions

Findings from this study expand prior research that has documented poor mental health among individuals involved in sex work. Clinical and community health professionals should consider screening for muscle dysmorphia symptomatology among young people who have been involved in sex work.

Keywords: adolescents, Appearance Intolerance, Canada, Drive for Size, Functional Impairment, muscle dysmorphia, sex work, young adults.

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