Subcultural appearance identifications, body image, and self-objectification among men who have sex with men

Subcultural appearance identifications (SAIs) are a common feature of communities of men who have sex with men (MSM). Previous research on SAIs focuses on their cultural functions, implications for sexual behavior and eating disorder psychopathology. Using Fogarty and Walker's (2022) study as a framework, the present study extends their work, which focused on eating disorder pathology, by examining the relationship between the SAIs and cognitive-affective body image variables. Using a cross-sectional survey methodology, we collected the responses of N = 644 MSM and assessed body appreciation, body actual/ideal discrepancy, self-esteem, and self-objectification. Quantitative data were analyzed using ANOVAs while open-ended responses were coded and used to contextualize the quantitative findings. We found that self-identified Jocks showed lower thinness actual/ideal discrepancy compared to all other SAIs, Bears reported higher thinness actual/ideal discrepancy compared to several comparison groups, while Twinks showed increased self-esteem and self-objectification compared to some SAI groups. All other analyses returned non-significant results. The open-ended data showed no statistically significant trends in endorsement of appearance-related pressures, or perception of SAIs as helpful or harmful. Rather, the open-ended data indicate significant heterogeneity in the views MSM have towards SAIs. The data of the current study suggest that SAIs do not uniformly shape appearance-related pressures or body image for MSM. Instead, SAIs may interact with dominant body ideals, community contexts, and an individual's conceptualizations of their SAI.