“Guys don't talk about their bodies”: A qualitative investigation of male body dissatisfaction and sociocultural influences in a sample of 40 Australian males

Abstract

Background. Contemporary scholarship has established that increasing numbers of men are experiencing body dissatisfaction. However, as a consequence of the enduring assumption that body dissatisfaction is a feminine domain, male body dissatisfaction is associated with considerable stigma. Objective. The current study aimed to explore and describe men's experience with body dissatisfaction and investigate sociocultural influences in the context of male body image. Of particular interest was to obtain, from men, perceptions of stigma and gender bias relating to male body dissatisfaction. Methods. Seven focus groups were conducted with a total of 40 Australian male university students, aged between 17-53 years (M=20.40; SD = 6.31). To analyse the data, two independent raters adhered to Braun and Clarke's (2006) protocol for thematic analysis. Results. Seven themes were identified: 1) Body dissatisfaction is less dangerous for men compared to women, 2) Lack of representation of male body dissatisfaction in the media, 3) Friendship group norms influence appearance investment, 4) Steroids as dangerous and socially undesirable, 5) Muscles signal dedication, but not intellect, 6) Masculine norms obstruct disclosure of body dissatisfaction, and 7) Professional help as a last resort. Conclusions. Participants' responses illustrate the importance of gender norms in the context of male body image, highlight the influence of peers on appearance investment, and reflect that appearance concerns and emotional expression continue to be associated with femininity (and thus, are undesirable for men). Key points 1. Male body dissatisfaction was perceived as less normative, associated with less risk, and treated with less sensitivity in social discourse than female body dissatisfaction.

Engagement with body image health promotion videos in adult men and women: differences between narrative, informational, and persuasive appeal approaches

“…It should be of note, however, that interest (i.e., behavioural engagement) was moderate among men, which may indicate less intent to engage with body image content more generally as body dissatisfaction and eating disorders are perceived to be feminine issues [ 61 ]. Reasons for this belief previously identified in research include lack of representation of men’s body dissatisfaction in media narratives [ 9 ], and masculine norms preventing men from discussing their dissatisfaction [ 9 , 62 , 63 ]. Future research could examine whether videos designed specifically with men in mind, using the same approaches used in the current study, may impact engagement differently.…”

“…Additionally, a qualitative study identified that participants at an exercise facility had poor understanding of the construct of body image, and sometimes conflated a thinner appearance or weight loss with positive body image [ 8 ]. Similarly, poor understanding of the consequences of body dissatisfaction for men were identified among male participants [ 9 ]. As body dissatisfaction mental health literacy is generally low in the population, it is important that evidence-based, wide-reaching campaigns about this problem are available to facilitate appropriate treatment-seeking [ 10 ].…”

Kadınsılık-erkeklik algısının beden algısı ve yeme tutumları arasındaki aracı rolü

“…This attitude towards the male body is also discussed as the concept of Masculinity Ideology, and having a muscular body is considered as an indicator of "masculinity" O'gorman et al, 2020 Ridgeway and. Therefore, when evaluating body dissatisfaction in men, fear of losing weight or getting fat is mostly associated with the desire to have a muscular body, but not the desire to be thin (O'gorman et al, 2020;. In line with this, there is no gender difference in regard to body dissatisfaction, when the ideology of muscularity is added as a parameter in terms of body image .…”

A Qualitative Study on Young Men’s Experiences of Intentional Weight-Gain

“…Recent research suggests many young men experience body image dissatisfaction throughout their everyday lives, extending beyond muscularity and/or leanness, exemplified by growing concerns about appearance [ 26 , 27 ]. However, they may be reluctant to disclose these concerns [ 28 , 29 ] because to do so would be to lose ‘masculine capital’ [ 5 , 30 , 31 ]. Thus, while young men are expected to tacitly work towards attaining male (Western) body ideals, they must simultaneously appear indifferent to, or detached from, their bodily appearance, denoted as ‘the double-bind of masculinity’ [ 32 ].…”