Men's body size preferences related to women's body image

Men's body size preferences related to women's body image

Body image in women

Meltzer, Andrea Leigh

2006

Abel, Millicent H.

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This study examined the effects of men's perceptions of women's bodies on women's body esteem and current and ideal body images. We hypothesized that women who were informed that men preferred a more voluptuous figure, as opposed to the thin model-type figure, would have higher body esteem and prefer a larger ideal body image. Relationships between Body Mass Index, waist-to-hip ratio, Body Esteem, Self-Esteem, Self-Oriented and Socially-Prescribed perfectionism, and Sex-Role Orientation were also examined. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: no information regarding men's preference for the female body (n= 31), information suggesting men prefer women who average a size 2 (n = 31), or information suggesting men prefer women who average a size 12 (n = 30). Each female completed a packet that assessed their Body Mass Index, Waist-to-hip ratio, self-esteem, self-oriented perfectionism, socially-prescribed perfectionism, self-monitoring, sex-role orientation, body esteem, current body image, and ideal body image. The three groups did not have equivalent Body Mass Indexes. Consequently, BMI was used as a covariate in each analysis. The hypotheses were not supported by the data; there were no significant differences in body esteem or ideal body image as a function of the condition (control, size 2, size 12). Relationships existed between BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, and Body Esteem with the personality measures as well as the rating on the ideal body image and a computed difference between the current and ideal body image. Participants who had higher BMls had an increased ideal body image and a larger difference between their current and ideal body image. Individuals with a high masculinity score, had increased body esteem, self-esteem, and waist-to-hip ratio and a smaller difference between their current and ideal body image. Finally, we found that a higher BMI was related to a lower body esteem. Future research should focus on the effects of men's size preference for the female body on women's body esteem. A matched groups design would work best to avoid unequal distribution of participant characteristics prior to experimental manipulation.

2014-09-11

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