ABSTRACT
Framed within social self-preservation theory, the present study investigated men's psychobiological responses to social-evaluative body image threats. University men ( n = 66) were randomly assigned to either a high or low social-evaluative body image threat condition. Participants provided saliva samples (to assess cortisol) and completed measures of state body shame prior to and following their condition, during which anthropometric and strength measures were assessed. Baseline corrected values indicated men in the high social-evaluative body image threat condition had higher body shame and cortisol than men in the low social-evaluative body image threat condition. These findings suggest that social evaluation in the context of situations that threaten body image leads to potentially negative psychobiological responses in college men.
Subject(s)
Body Image/psychology , Hydrocortisone/analysis , Shame , Adolescent , Adult , Anthropometry , Humans , Male , Models, Psychological , Muscle Strength/physiology , Ontario , Saliva/chemistry , Social Behavior , Universities , Young AdultABSTRACT
This study examined the importance of body image evaluation and investment to predict dietary restraint in men (N = 272). Measures of physical activity, evaluation, investment and dietary restraint were completed. A hierarchical regression was conducted to predict dietary restraint from physical activity and body mass index (entered on the first step), body image evaluation (entered on the second step) and investment (entered on the final step). The overall regression was significant, F(4, 271) = 15.12, p < .001, R (2) adj = .17). Body mass index, physical activity and body image investment were significant positive predictors of dietary restraint. The present findings emphasize measuring body image investment.