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Body Image and Voluntary Gaze Behaviors towards Physique-Salient Images
April Karlinsky1, Holly Howe2, Melissa de Jonge3
1Department of Kinesiology, California State University, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA.
Summary
Body image factors like envy and appreciation influence men's media consumption. Media exposure can negatively impact men's affect, with body image strongly linked to behavior in men.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Media Studies
- Body Image Research
Background:
- Physique-salient media consumption is prevalent among young adults.
- Understanding the psychological factors influencing media choices is crucial.
- Previous research has not fully explored the link between body image and voluntary media engagement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between body image variables and voluntary consumption of physique-salient media.
- To examine changes in affect after exposure to media featuring idealized and average physiques.
- To compare these relationships between young adult men and women.
Main Methods:
- Young adult men and women (N=134) were exposed to images of same-sex models with varying physiques.
- Voluntary gaze behavior towards images was covertly recorded.
- Participants completed pre- and post-exposure measures of affect, body-related envy, body appreciation, and self-perceptions.
Main Results:
- Body image variables differentially predicted gaze behaviors in men and women.
- For men, higher body-related envy and lower body appreciation correlated with increased viewing of average-physique models.
- Negative affect changes were associated with viewing idealized-physique images in men, but not women.
Conclusions:
- Body-related envy and body appreciation significantly influence how men engage with physique-salient media.
- Media consumption, particularly of idealized physiques, may negatively affect men's emotional state.
- Body image appears to be a stronger correlate of media consumption behavior in men compared to women.
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