Abstract
Previous research indicated that negative attitudes
about the body and appearance are common among men and
demonstrated that negative body attitudes are associated with
negative sexual experiences. The present study investigated
the association between body attitudes and sexual dissatisfaction
and themediating role of body self-consciousness during
physical intimacy. In a cross-sectional design, 201 Dutch men
completedanonline surveyregardingbodyattitudestowardmuscularity,
body fat, height, and genitals, body self-consciousness
during physical intimacy, and sexual dissatisfaction. Hypotheses
were tested using correlation analyses and a mediation analysis
withbodyattitudesaspredictors,bodyself-consciousnessasmediator,
and sexual dissatisfaction as outcome. Correlation analyses
showed that negative body attitudes and body self-consciousness
during physical intimacy were significantly related to sexual dissatisfaction.
The mediation analysis revealed that negative attitudestowardmuscularity,
bodyfat,andgenitalshadindirecteffects
on sexual dissatisfaction through body self-consciousness during
physical intimacy. Negative attitudes toward genitals additionally
hadadirecteffectonsexual dissatisfaction.Thesefindings indicate
that body image interventions focused onmale body attitudesmay
bebeneficial inimprovingmen’sbodyimage,whichmayultimately
increase sexual satisfaction.
about the body and appearance are common among men and
demonstrated that negative body attitudes are associated with
negative sexual experiences. The present study investigated
the association between body attitudes and sexual dissatisfaction
and themediating role of body self-consciousness during
physical intimacy. In a cross-sectional design, 201 Dutch men
completedanonline surveyregardingbodyattitudestowardmuscularity,
body fat, height, and genitals, body self-consciousness
during physical intimacy, and sexual dissatisfaction. Hypotheses
were tested using correlation analyses and a mediation analysis
withbodyattitudesaspredictors,bodyself-consciousnessasmediator,
and sexual dissatisfaction as outcome. Correlation analyses
showed that negative body attitudes and body self-consciousness
during physical intimacy were significantly related to sexual dissatisfaction.
The mediation analysis revealed that negative attitudestowardmuscularity,
bodyfat,andgenitalshadindirecteffects
on sexual dissatisfaction through body self-consciousness during
physical intimacy. Negative attitudes toward genitals additionally
hadadirecteffectonsexual dissatisfaction.Thesefindings indicate
that body image interventions focused onmale body attitudesmay
bebeneficial inimprovingmen’sbodyimage,whichmayultimately
increase sexual satisfaction.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 693-701 |
| Journal | Archives of Sexual Behavior |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- Body image
- Sexual dissatisfaction
- Objectification theory
- Muscularity