The effects of exposure to muscular male models among men: exploring the moderating role of gym use and exercise motivation.
This study examines the effects of exposure to the muscular male body ideal on body-focused negative affect among male gym users and non-exercisers. As hypothesized, the impact of media exposure depended on men's exercise status. Non-exercisers (n = 58) reported greater body-focused negative affect after exposure to images of muscular male models than after neutral images (no model controls), whereas gym users (n = 58) showed a tendency for less body-focused negative affect after the model images than after the control images. Furthermore, the extent to which gym users were motivated to increase strength and muscularity moderated these exposure effects; men who reported stronger strength and muscularity exercise motivation reported a greater degree of self-enhancement after exposure to the muscular ideal. The findings are interpreted with respect to likely differences in motives for social comparisons.
Halliwell
Emma
E
Centre for Appearance Research, School of Psychology, University of the West of England, Frenchay, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 9QY, UK. emma.halliwell@uwe.ac.uk
Dittmar
Helga
H
Orsborn
Amber
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001823:Body Composition; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D020446:Fitness Centers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D053580:Muscle Strength; D012649:Self Concept; D012951:Socialization