Body image dissatisfaction among males across the lifespan: A review of past literature

doi:10.1016/S0022-3999(03)00129-6

Journal of Psychosomatic Research

Volume 56, Issue 6, June 2004, Pages 675-685

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3999(03)00129-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective: Most past research has focused on body dissatisfaction among females. This paper provides a review and evaluation of studies that have examined body dissatisfaction among males. Body dissatisfaction in males has been associated with poor psychological adjustment, eating disorders, steroid use, exercise dependence, as well as other health behaviors. It is therefore important to understand the level of body dissatisfaction, as well as the factors that are related to this construct. Method: The review is divided into three sections: body dissatisfaction among children, adolescents and adults. Within each section, levels of body dissatisfaction are examined, as well as the research that relates to sociocultural influences on body dissatisfaction. Difficulties in drawing valid conclusions from the data due to methodological problems are highlighted. Results: From the current data, it would appear that there are strong similarities in the levels of body dissatisfaction of male and female children, with most children demonstrating high levels of body satisfaction. During adolescence, boys are about equally divided between wanting to lose weight and increasing weight, but there are few studies that have examined a desire for increased muscle size. In adulthood, men evidence a stronger desire to lose weight as they get older. Conclusion: Overall, past studies have primarily focused on questions that are relevant to females, and there is a need to conduct studies that evaluate areas of body dissatisfaction that have greater relevance for males. This will then allow a better understanding of the relationship between body dissatisfaction and psychological and behavioral problems experienced by males at all stages of the lifespan.

Section snippets

Body image dissatisfaction among males

Body image is a complex phenomenon that is multidimensional in nature [1], [2], [3] and can involve perceptual, affective, cognitive or behavioral disturbances. This paper will focus on the affective (emotional, feeling) and cognitive (thinking, evaluative) components of body image. Research has indicated (e.g., [4], [5]) that a significant number of males and females are dissatisfied with their bodies. Most of this past research has focused on body dissatisfaction among females, and the extent

Body image disturbance among males

This paper provides a critical evaluation of the literature that relates to body image dissatisfaction and the sociocultural influences that impact on body image among males. Past research has demonstrated conflicting findings regarding levels of body dissatisfaction among males and the extent to which they differ from females. There have also been mixed findings in relation to the impact of parents, peers and the media on body image among males. These results are partly due to the types of

Body dissatisfaction among preadolescent boys

Most of the research on body image disturbance during childhood has focused on girls and has primarily evaluated the desire to be thinner (see Ref. [20] for a review of the literature on body dissatisfaction among children). The following discussion will focus on studies that have included both boys and girls, or those that only sampled male respondents. Sands et al. [21] examined the body image of boys and girls aged 10 and 11 years. They found that twice as many girls as boys indicated a

Body dissatisfaction among adolescent boys

There has been a substantial body of literature that has evaluated body image and the factors that impact on body image among adolescent girls (e.g., [10], [39], [40], [41]). Most studies of male body image have also been conducted on adolescent boys. There have been mixed findings in relation to levels of body dissatisfaction, with some studies indicating that levels of body dissatisfaction among adolescent boys are lower then among adolescent girls. For example, Rosenblum and Lewis [42]

Body dissatisfaction among adult men

Although most research on the body dissatisfaction of adult respondents (18 years of age or older) has focused on women, there has been some recent literature that has examined this issue among adult men. Studies seem to indicate that body dissatisfaction among adult men is not as straightforward as it is among adult women. Women of all age groups generally strive for a slimmer body regardless of their BMI, and this finding has been consistently found among adult women. In contrast, some adult

Overall conclusion

This paper has evaluated the literature that relates to levels of body dissatisfaction among males across the lifespan and the sociocultural pressures that shape this body dissatisfaction. The literature in this area is not as extensive as the literature that relates to female body dissatisfaction. It has also frequently focused on issues that are relevant to females (i.e., obtaining a smaller body, losing weight), and so it has not provided a comprehensive picture of levels of body

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Body image dissatisfaction among males across the lifespan: A review of past literature

Abstract

Section snippets

Body image dissatisfaction among males

Body image disturbance among males

Body dissatisfaction among preadolescent boys

Body dissatisfaction among adolescent boys

Body dissatisfaction among adult men

Overall conclusion

Prev Med

Clin Psychol Rev

Addict Behav

J Appl Dev Psychol

Behav Ther

Behav Ther

J Adolesc Health

J Adolesc Health

J Psychosom Res

J Psychosom Res

J Adolesc Health Care

An evaluation and clinical implications of the construct of body image

Adolescence

Adolescent male athletes: body image, diet and exercise

Adolescence

Body image disturbance: assessment and treatment

Body image and body change techniques among young adolescent males

Eur Eat Disord Rev

Gender differences among adolescents in family and peer influences on body dissatisfaction, weight loss and binge eating behaviors

J Youth Adolesc

Developing of eating problems in adolescent girls: a longitudinal study

Dev Psychol

A three year longitudinal study of body image and eating disturbance in adolescent females

Eat Disord J Prev Treat

Body image, eating disorders and obesity in youth

Predictors of eating disorder scores in children ages 6 through 14—a longitudinal study

J Psychosom Res

Disordered eating precursors in pre- and early adolescent girls and boys

J Youth Adolesc

Prospective analysis of personality and behavioral vulnerabilities and gender influences in the later development of disordered eating

J Abnorm Psychol

Measuring binge eating in adolescents: adolescent and parent versions of the questionnaire in eating and weight patterns

Int J Eat Disord

Body image and eating behavior in adolescent boys

Am J Dis Child

Binge eating and substance use among male and female adolescents

Int J Eat Disord

Eating disturbance, self-esteem, reasons for exercising and body weight dissatisfaction in adolescent males

Eur Eat Disord Rev

Body image in Australian adolescents

The media's influence on body image disturbance and eating disorders: we've reviled them, now can we rehabilitate them?

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Evolving ideals of male body image as seen through action toys

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Disordered eating patterns, body image, self-esteem, and physical activity in preadolescent school children

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