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Body Image Perceptions: Do Gender Differences Exist?
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by Maggie A. Brennan, Christopher E. Lalonde, Jody L. Bain - University of Victoria
Categories: Perception
Despite the large volume of research on body image, few studies have directly
compared body image perceptions of men and women. Do men and women
experience body image dissatisfaction in the same ways? Do similar factors predict
negative body image perceptions in men and women? Is body image dissatisfaction
associated with the same consequences regardless of gender? This study investigated
these questions. One hundred ninety-seven undergraduate students completed an
online survey that assessed their body image experiences and self-perceptions (i.e.,
body esteem, body mass index, self-esteem, sociocultural and situational factors,
and body image perceptions in sexual contexts). Data analysis compared the
responses of male and female participants. Several gender differences were found;
body dissatisfaction was more common and felt more strongly in women, yet men
were also clearly affected by body dissatisfaction.
Fall 2010 | Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research (Vol. 15, No. 3, p. 130), published by Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology (Chattanooga, TN). Copyright, 2010, Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. All rights reserved.