title: Sexual identity development and self-esteem as predictors of body image in a racially diverse sample of gay men.
abstract: The current study examined the relationship between sexual identity development and body image, as well as the potential mediating effect of self-esteem, in a community sample of gay men. A diverse group of participants (N = 172), recruited through listservs and flyers, completed an online survey. Regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationships between identity development and self-esteem, identity development and body image, self-esteem and body image, and the mediating role of self-esteem. As predicted, significant relationships were identified between each pair of variables, and self-esteem was found to be a mediator when the sample was considered as a whole. When participants of color were compared to those who were White, however, between-group differences emerged; identity stage did not predict self-esteem or body image for participants of color, nor did the mediated relationship exist. Self-esteem did predict body image in both groups. The sociocultural context of these findings is considered.
authors.affiliation: Division of Counseling Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. doctorudallweiner@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Udall-Weiner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image; D003710:Demography; D005783:Gender Identity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology; D011581:Psychological Tests; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult