Title

Relations among media influence, body image, eating concerns, and sexual orientation in men: A preliminary investigation

Authors

Authors

T. L. M. Carper; C. Negy;S. Tantleff-Dunn

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Body Image

Keywords

Gay men; Sexual orientation; Eating concerns; Body image; Media; influences; Appearance concerns; SOCIOCULTURAL ATTITUDES; OBJECTIFICATION THEORY; TELEVISED IMAGES; RISK-FACTOR; GAY MEN; DISSATISFACTION; DISORDERS; GENDER; MALES; HOMOSEXUALITY; Psychology, Clinical; Psychiatry; Psychology, Multidisciplinary

Abstract

The current study explored the relation between sexual orientation, media persuasion, and eating and body image concerns among 78 college men (39 gay; 39 straight). Participants completed measures of sexual orientation, eating disorder symptoms, appearance-related anxiety, perceived importance of physical attractiveness, perceptions of media influence, and media exposure. Gay men scored significantly higher on drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and body image-related anxiety than their straight counterparts. Additionally, perceptions of media influence were higher for gay men, and significantly mediated the relation between sexual orientation and eating and body image concerns. Sexual orientation also moderated the relation between perceived media influence and beliefs regarding the importance of physical attractiveness, as this relation was significant for gay men, but not straight men. The current findings suggest that gay men's increased vulnerability to media influence partially accounts for the relatively high rate of eating pathology observed in this population. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Journal Title

Body Image

Volume

7

Issue/Number

4

Publication Date

1-1-2010

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

301

Last Page

309

WOS Identifier

WOS:000284348500006

ISSN

1740-1445

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