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Published on: May 31, 2021
Examining body dissatisfaction in young men within a biopsychosocial framework
Anna M Bardone-Cone1, Kamila M Cass, Jennifer A Ford
1Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. bardoneconea@missouri.edu
Body Image
|May 9, 2008
Summary
Media influence significantly impacts male body dissatisfaction. Perfectionism and weight teasing moderate the link between body mass index and body dissatisfaction in men, highlighting key factors in male body image.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Body dissatisfaction is a growing concern among young adults.
- Understanding the biopsychosocial factors contributing to body dissatisfaction is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
- Previous research has primarily focused on female body image, with less attention paid to the specific factors affecting young men.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine biopsychosocial factors associated with body dissatisfaction in young men.
- To investigate the role of media influence, weight-related teasing, and perfectionism in male body dissatisfaction.
- To compare body dissatisfaction factors between men and women.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 111 male and 236 female undergraduates.
- Self-report questionnaires were used to assess body mass index (BMI), media influence, history of weight-related teasing, socially prescribed perfectionism, and body dissatisfaction.
- Multivariate and moderator analyses were conducted to examine relationships between variables.
Main Results:
- Perceived media pressure was consistently linked to body dissatisfaction in men.
- Multiple biopsychosocial variables explained body dissatisfaction in women.
- Socially prescribed perfectionism and a history of weight teasing moderated the relationship between BMI and body dissatisfaction in men, identifying subgroups with lower body dissatisfaction.
- The findings suggest that a biopsychosocial framework is valuable for understanding male body dissatisfaction.
Conclusions:
- Media influence is a significant contributor to body dissatisfaction in young men.
- Socially prescribed perfectionism and weight-related teasing play a moderating role in the relationship between BMI and body dissatisfaction among men.
- Future research should explore additional factors such as peer influence and sports involvement to fully understand male body image contributors.
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