Men’s reflections on their body image at different life stages: A thematic analysis of interview accounts from middle-aged men

Malik, M. Shaheer; Grogan, Sarah; Cole, Jennifer; Gough, Brendan

doi:10.1177/1359105319871640

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…As Rahman and Yu [ 31 ] asserted in their study, “As people age and experience various life-changing events, many may change lifestyle choices, buying habits or develop new needs to fit their new assumed role. (p. 196)” The following two excerpts provide support for previous research on the shopping behaviour of aging consumers [ 31 ] and men’s body image at different life stages [ 32 ].…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 61%

Men’s Physical Stature: Tackling Heightism and Challenges in Fashion Consumption

Rahman

Navarro

2022

Behavioral Sciences

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In light of the limitations of previous research on fashion consumption by short men, the present study was undertaken to examine the relationship between male body image, height perceptions, clothing choice, garment fit, and heightism. In this study, 3D body scanning technology and in-depth interviews were employed to investigate the relational effects between men’s height, body image, and clothing consumption. In total, twelve men exhibiting a height of 5′ 8″ or less participated. The findings indicate that “heightism” is prevalent in today’s society. As well, the results reveal that overall appearance and physical stature become less important as people grow older. It is evident that short male consumers encounter challenges when they shop for fashionable and well-fitting clothing. They are underserved by the fashion industry and often impacted by judgmental biases. The study supports that garment alteration and buying clothes from the children’s section, or a bespoke tailor are not ideal solutions for short men. Furthermore, many of them just accept the fact that they are short and try to find ways to alleviate their frustration when consuming fashion.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 61%

Men’s Physical Stature: Tackling Heightism and Challenges in Fashion Consumption

Rahman

Navarro

2022

Behavioral Sciences

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“…Sport is a common socializing force in the lives of many men: preadolescent boys are often embedded in a sporting culture by the age of 8, and performance (i.e., in sport) is important in the display and maintenance of masculine identities (Tatangelo & Ricciardelli, 2013). For men who have, over the years, allowed a process of bodily inattention (Malik, Grogan, Cole, & Gough, 2019) to lead to gradual weight gain and fitness loss, re-entering into exercise environments can be daunting. Gyms are unappealing for many, and the prospect of joining social sport leagues can also be unattractive due to the perceived need to be fit to keep up.…”

Section: Masculine Capitalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overweight and obese men’s experiences in a sport-based weight loss intervention for men

Budden

Dimmock

Smith

et al. 2020

Psychology of Sport and Exercise

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In Western countries, such as Australia and the UK, a significantly greater proportion of men (relative to women) are overweight and obese, yet relatively few weight loss interventions have been developed that sufficiently target men. This lack of male-focused programming may be in part because 'traditional' weight loss programs are unappealing for what is considered a 'hard-to-reach' population. One program that appears to have such appeal for men is the MAN v FAT Football (MVFF) program, based out of the United Kingdom, which is designed for men with a body mass index of (or greater than) 27.5. MVFF encourages men's participation in a community-based weight loss program that incentivizes weight loss through participation in a football league, and since 2016 MVFF has supported the weight loss efforts of several thousand men. Using MVFF as an exemplar, our aim was to derive insight into how men experience a male-only competitive, sport-based weight loss program. We recruited twenty-seven players (Mage ¼ 41.13, SD ¼ 9.93), and ten coaches (Mage ¼ 31.8, SD ¼ 11.55) from program locations throughout the United Kingdom. Using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, we identified several appraisal aspects of the program that players and coaches considered important, including the appeal of sport, competition on a level playing field, being part of a team, camaraderie, accountability, men sharing issues with other men, gender-sensitized environment, likeminded and similar men, and perceptions that traditional weight loss programs are tailored towards women. Player experiences (i.e., competence and enjoyment) and functional supports in the program (e.g., player handbook, weight loss coach) were reported to drive outcomes of effective weight loss and program retention. Interventions aiming to target men may be more successful working with rather than against formulations of identity such as masculinities, and this can be achieved by tailoring program content (e.g., messaging), settings (e.g., among men sharing similar characteristics such as body-type or goals), and mode of delivery (e.g., through organized sports, and leveraging competition to drive healthy behaviours).

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“…Few researchers have shown results that indicated body dissatisfaction among African men (Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda) and a preference for more muscularity and a desire for bodies that were slightly larger than their actual body sizes (Campbell et al., 2005; Maruf et al., 2012; Okoro et al., 2014). Body image concerns for adolescent boys worldwide, though less constrained than for girls, are still very complex (Malik et al., 2021; Ricciardelli, 2012) especially when intersected with urban dwelling, media, and multicultural influences (Campbell et al., 2005; Maruf et al., 2012; Okoro et al., 2014; Thornborrow et al., 2020). There is evidently a need for more research to understand the mechanisms underlying the body image ideals for male adolescents and more support, education and interventions targeted toward males (Bello et al., 2017; Sommer et al., 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pubertal status and body image: An inquiry into experiences of adolescents in Ghana and Kenya

Mahama,

Weichold,

Fehmer

et al. 2024

J of Research on Adolesc

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The current study uses a mixed method design to investigate Kenyan and Ghanaian adolescents' experiences of puberty, and the relations between gender, country of origin, pubertal status, and body image appraisals (N = 86; Ghana = 46, Kenya = 40, 52.9% female aged 13 and 14). Qualitative results revealed seven major themes; puberty means a universal period of growth and transition into adulthood but also evokes negative emotions of shame, anxiety, and embarrassment, being in sync with peers during puberty is important and knowing that others in their lives similarly experience puberty is reassuring. Quantitative results revealed significant gender and country differences in pubertal status and body image. Ghanaian adolescents had more advanced pubertal status and more positive body image appraisals compared to Kenyan adolescents. Moderation analysis results revealed that for the Kenyan sample, post‐pubertal males had less favorable body image appraisals than their counterparts who were still pre pubertal whilst for females, post‐pubertal girls had more favorable body images than their counterparts. No such effects were observed with the Ghanaian sample. The findings highlight the need for context considerations in understanding body image during the pubertal transition to help identify relevant protective factors for possible interventions. The results affirm the importance of positive body image promotions for adolescents within the African context and suggest the need for much more comprehensive sex education with gender‐specific components to help allay fears about puberty, thus preventing the development of possible adaptation problems.

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Men’s reflections on their body image at different life stages: A thematic analysis of interview accounts from middle-aged men

Cited by 13 publications

References 42 publications

Men’s Physical Stature: Tackling Heightism and Challenges in Fashion Consumption

Men’s Physical Stature: Tackling Heightism and Challenges in Fashion Consumption

Overweight and obese men’s experiences in a sport-based weight loss intervention for men

Pubertal status and body image: An inquiry into experiences of adolescents in Ghana and Kenya

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