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

    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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