Gender-specific differences in body-related attention allocation in adolescents: An eye-tracking study

Although previous research has demonstrated biased body-related attention allocation in female adolescents, there is a lack of studies examining these patterns in male adolescents. Considering the growing body of evidence highlighting high levels of body dissatisfaction among male adolescents and findings that biased body-related attention perpetuates such dissatisfaction, this study aims to address this research gap. Eye movements of German male adolescents (n = 42; age: M = 14.88 years, SD = 1.70) and female adolescents (n = 43; age: M = 15.85, SD = 1.77) were recorded as they viewed images of their own body and a peer's body. State measures of body dissatisfaction and affect were also collected for each condition. Results showed that boys, compared to girls, spent less time fixating on unattractive areas of their own body. Furthermore, boys allocated equal attention to attractive and unattractive areas of both their own and a peer's body, while girls exhibited a more deficit-oriented attention pattern. Regarding state measures, boys were less negatively affected by viewing images of bodies than girls. However, both genders reported higher body dissatisfaction after viewing their own body compared to a peer's body. Overall, these findings provide evidence of gender differences in body-related attention allocation, with boys potentially displaying a more self-serving attention pattern. Nonetheless, the negative impact of viewing one's own body, as observed in both genders, highlights the importance of addressing body-related concerns in male adolescents, for example, through tailored prevention programs.