Research suggests that cultural shifts in the ways men's bodies are represented lead men to feel increasingly dissatisfied with their appearance. Clothing is an ideal but underresearched mechanism for appearance management; however, little is known about men's presentation of their bodies through clothed displays. This article explores the ways in which men's subjective feelings about their bodies influence their clothing practices. Thematic analysis revealed 4 key themes: practicality of clothing choices, lack of concern about appearance, use of clothing to conceal or reveal the body, and use of clothing to fit cultural ideals. This article demonstrates the pervasive and mundane role of clothing in men's self-surveillance and self-presentation and the range and complexity of the processes involved in clothing the body.
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a disease in which the skin blisters in response to minimal friction, causing painful wounds. Despite the potentially severe nature of epidermolysis bullosa, research on the psychosocial issues is scarce. The aims of the study were to explore the psychosocial impact of epidermolysis bullosa on affected adults and to identify associated support needs. We collected data using semistructured interviews and employed inductive thematic analysis to organize and analyze them. Three main themes—beliefs about containing the impact of EB, understandings of the disease, and the disabling impact of EB—describe the ways in which living with EB influences the daily lives of participants at intraindividual, interindividual, and sociocultural levels. The associated support needs ranged in type and intensity, from a preference for brief, skills-based interventions and the facilitation of peer support through to longer-term specialist psychological support. The results highlight how the particular combination of the rarity of the disease, its lifelong and hereditary nature, and its disfiguring impact on the skin differentiate epidermolysis bullosa from other chronic conditions.
Evidence that interpersonal interactions and self-appraisal in social context are crucial in developing self-understanding raises concerns about how pupils with autism spectrum disorder make sense of themselves in school settings where many experience social marginalisation. Metasynthesis was used to systematically extract and integrate findings from qualitative studies examining the mainstream school experiences of these students. Synthesised findings identified three, intermeshing, aspects of experience which contribute to many pupils with autism spectrum disorder making sense of themselves as 'different' to typical peers in a negative way: difficulties linked to autism spectrum disorder; interpersonal relationships, particularly with peers; and accessibility of the school environment. Typical pupils' attitudes and responses towards peers with autism spectrum disorder, unusual sensory reactions to the physical school environment and individual sense-making about the self are highlighted as key areas requiring further research and intervention to improve the experiences, self-esteem and well-being of pupils with autism spectrum disorder in inclusive settings and to inform educational policy and practice.
The reification of body image leads to unarticulated ideological and conceptual assumptions that obscure the most dynamic and productive features of the construct. These assumptions are that body image: (1) 'exists'; (2) is a socially mediated product of perception; (3) is 'internal' and 'of the individual'; (4) can be treated and measured as if real; and (5) individuals' respond to body image measures as if neutrally providing information about pre-existing images held in their heads. We argue that it is more useful to consider body imaging as a process, an activity rather than a product.
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