Body Image Concerns Among College Male

Population: Maybe I’m Hot, Maybe I’m Not

Department of PsychologyTexas A&M University-Kingsville

Ronald E. McNair Scholars ProgramKingsville, TX 78363

Faculty Mentor:Dr. Donald W. Daughtry

Brenda L. Barrera

Purpose of Research

Compare the levels of male body image dissatisfaction in correlation to self-esteem scores and the prevalence of developing an eating disorder.

Male Body Image Dissatisfaction

Male body image dissatisfaction has been largely ignored in literature until recently (Mills, D’Alfonso, 2007).

APA recognition, Division 51- Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity

Review of LiteratureMale body image dissatisfaction has increased dramatically from 15% to 43%, almost comparable to women (Goldfield, Blouin, Woodside, 2006).

Muscle dsymorphia, bigorexia, megorexia, reverse anerexia nervosa (Mills, D’Alfonso, 2007).

Review of Literature

“The Adonis Complex” and increase in muscular appearance in action figures- Pope, Phillips, and Olivardia (2000),

Life threatening risks factors (Peters, Phelps, 2001).

Research Questions 1. Does negative body image lead to lower self esteem scores?

2. Does having a negative body image increased men’s pressure to develop an eating disorder?

MethodologyReview Literature

Design surveys

Submit IRB

Request permission from Summer II and Fall ‘07 professors

Survey students

Analyze results (SPSS)

Report results

SurveyDemographics

Body Assessment ScaleList of body part- 17 items- 5 point Likert scale

Self-Esteem Inventory10 items- 4 point Likert scale

Brief Questionnaire for Eating Disorder Symptoms12 items- yes/no scale

Sample SizeTotal Participants

N= 82 males

TAMUK-Summer Session II and Fall ‘07

Average age: 22

56% Hispanic

42% Seniors

98% Heterosexuals

BAS (17-85)= 35.1517 = most satisfied-chest, abdomen, teeth, and nose

Body Assessment Scale

05

10152025303540

Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative VeryNegative

Level of Assessment

Tota

l Num

ber

of

Par

ticip

ants

Very Positive

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Very Negative

SEI (10-40)= 16.2610 = highest self-esteem-Pride and Respect

Self-Esteem Inventory

0

10

20

30

40

50

Very High High Neutral Low Very Low

Levels of Self-Esteem

Tota

l Num

bero

f P

artic

ipan

ts

Very High

High

Neutral

Low

Very Low

ED Symptoms (12-24)= 21.9312 = more likely to have an E.D.

Yet most answered yes to:-over exercising-over eating

Eating Disorder Symptoms

05

10152025303540

Most Likely More Likely Likely Less Likely Not Likely

Level of Prevalence

Tota

l Num

ber

of

Par

ticip

ants

Most Likely

More Likely

Likely

Less Likely

Not Likely

Results As of now my research questions

were rejected

No significance in body image dissatisfaction

Therefore, no correlations could be made between negative body image and self-esteem nor eating disorder symptoms

A positive correlation (0.55). exist between positive BAS and higher SEI.

Positive Correlation

Limitations

Small Sample Size

Time Constraint

The use of instruments that have not yet been psychometrically evaluated

Future Research

Cross-cultural

Age Groups

Adulthood

Athletes versus non-athletes

Sexual orientation as a risk factor

Acknowledgements

TAMUK Special Programs- AVP, Mary Gonzalez Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program

Mayra HoughCarmelino Castillo, Jr.Courtney Romo

Dr. Donald W. Daughtry

IRB Committee

Dr. Olivares

Faculty Advisory Board

Participants

Fellow McNair Scholars