Mushyydah Abid2026-01-202026-01-202024-09-18https://escholar.umt.edu.pk/handle/123456789/18342This study examines the relationship between emotion reactivity, cognitive biases, drive for muscularity, and social appearance anxiety among male gym members in Lahore, Pakistan, who are aged 18 to 30 years. The study attempts to determine the associations between these psychological variables and their effect on social appearance anxiety using a correlational research design. Purposive sampling was used to choose a sample of 121 gym patrons based on a certain inclusion criterion. The Drive for Muscularity Scale, Emotion Reactivity Scale, Davos Assessment of Cognitive Biases Scale, and Social Appearance Anxiety Scale were among the validated scales used in the study. Important results from the hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that more weight, drive for muscularity, sensitivity, arousal/intensity, and safety behaviors were significant positive predictors of social appearance anxiety, while consistent gym attendance was found to be a negative predictor. Furthermore, a parallel multiple mediation study revealed that cognitive biases, rather than drive for muscularity, significantly mediated the relationship between emotion reactivity and social appearance anxiety. Analysis of variance test showed that participants who spent more than two hours at the gym, were in relationships, and went to the gym seldom were higher in social appearance anxiety, emotion reactivity, and cognitive biases. These findings highlight the necessity of focused psychological therapies, especially ones that target cognitive bias modification, to reduce social appearance concern among gym-goers.enThesis