The Influence of Awareness and Internalization of Western Appearance Ideals on Body Dissatisfaction in Euro-American and Hispanic Males

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2008

Publication Title

Psychology of Men & Masculinity

Volume

9

Issue

4

First page number:

257

Last page number:

266

Abstract

Although Western cultural values of appearance are implicated in the development of body dissatisfaction in women, comparatively little research has explored its influence in men of different ethnic groups. This study examined the influence of awareness and internalization of Western values of appearance on body dissatisfaction in Euro American and Hispanic males. Specifically, the study tested a) whether internalization of Western appearance ideals mediates the relationship between awareness of such ideals and body dissatisfaction and b) whether the strength of these relationships differs by ethnic group. Self-identified Euro American (n = 111) and Hispanic (n = 91) males completed measures of awareness and internalization of Western sociocultural values of appearance and body dissatisfaction. Path analysis using maximum likelihood with robust standard errors suggested that awareness of Western ideals positively predicted internalization of those ideals and internalization positively predicted body dissatisfaction. The paths between awareness, internalization, and body dissatisfaction did not differ significantly by ethnic group. Results suggest that awareness and internalization of Western appearance ideals predict body dissatisfaction in both Hispanic and Euro American men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)

Disciplines

Health Psychology

Language

English

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