THE EFFECT OF A NURSE-LED DIGITAL HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM ON BODY IMAGE SOCIAL PHYSIQUE ANXIETY AND MUSCLE DYSMORPHIA LEVELS IN YOUNG MEN WITH BIGOREXIA TENDENCIES: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

In recent years, the desire to achieve a muscular body appearance has been increasingly observed among young men, and this situation may lead to unhealthy behaviors and psychological problems in some individuals. Bigorexia, also referred to as muscle dysmorphia, is considered a significant condition within body image disorders and is characterized by a persistent and unrealistic perception of not being sufficiently muscular.

Young men with tendencies toward bigorexia may experience negative body image, feel anxiety related to their physical appearance in social settings, and consequently suffer a decline in their quality of daily life. This phenomenon, which can lead to serious psychological, physical, and social problems, plays an important role in the lives of men. The present study aims to examine the effects of a 12-week digital-based education program provided to young men with bigorexia tendencies on body image, social physique anxiety, and levels of bigorexia.

In this research, the effects of a digital-based health education program developed for young men with bigorexia tendencies will be investigated. The study will be conducted using a randomized controlled experimental design, and the impact of the digital health education on participants' body image, social physique anxiety, and bigorexia levels will be evaluated. It is expected that the findings will provide evidence-based data to support the development of healthy lifestyle behaviors among young men, strengthen positive body image, and reduce the risk of bigorexia. Additionally, demonstrating the effectiveness of digital-based educational interventions is anticipated to introduce an innovative approach to public health nursing practice.