Individual differences in male body-image: An examination of self-objectification in recreational body builders

Objectives Male bodybuilders have been found previously to have higher levels of disordered eating and body‐image disturbance than do other men. This study investigated whether objectification theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) could be used to explain these observed differences in male body‐i...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	British journal of health psychology 2005-09, Vol.10 (3), p.453-465
Main Authors:	Hallsworth, Lisa, Wade, Tracey, Tiggemann, Marika
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Adolescent Adult Anxiety Applied psychology Biological and medical sciences Body build Body Image Bodybuilding Bulimia Cross-Sectional Studies Discontent Eating disorders Feeding and Eating Disorders - psychology Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Humans Individual differences Individuality Male Males Men Mental depression Objectification theory Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry Psychology. Psychophysiology Psychometrics Questionnaires Recreation Reference Values Self image Self-Assessment Shame Sports. Leisure Surveillance Weight Lifting - psychology
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Objectives Male bodybuilders have been found previously to have higher levels of disordered eating and body‐image disturbance than do other men. This study investigated whether objectification theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) could be used to explain these observed differences in male body‐image. Design A cross‐sectional, self‐report design was used. Methods Three samples of men were recruited: bodybuilders (N = 31), weightlifters (N = 17), and non‐athletic controls (N = 35). Participants completed a questionnaire containing measures of self‐objectification, self‐surveillance, body shame, appearance anxiety, and four outcomes: body dissatisfaction, drive for muscularity, bulimia, and depression. Results As predicted, bodybuilders had significantly higher levels of self‐objectification than weightlifters and controls, and higher levels of body dissatisfaction and drive for muscularity than controls. Overall, the relationships between self‐objectification and the outcome variables, and self‐surveillance and the outcome variables, were mediated by appearance anxiety. Conclusions . Bodybuilding is associated with outcomes that suggest it may not result in greater overall health for men. It was concluded that objectification theory provides a useful framework for examining body‐image differences in men.
ISSN:	1359-107X 2044-8287