title: Internalization as a mediator of the relationship between conformity to masculine norms and body image attitudes and behaviors among young men in Sweden, US, UK, and Australia.
abstract: We examined whether internalization of sociocultural body ideals mediated the relationship between conformity to masculine norms and drive for muscularity, leanness, and thinness in a sample of males from Sweden, US, UK, and Australia. Over six hundred young men [n=142 (Sweden); n=192 (US); n=141 (UK); n=160 (Australia)] completed an online survey that included assessments of masculine role norms, body image, and internalization of sociocultural body ideals. Path analyses confirmed internalization as a mediator between greater conformity to masculine norms and body image measures (drive for thinness, desire for leanness, and desire for muscularity) across the sample. However, significant cross-country differences in the strength of these mediation effects were found. Mediation effects among US, Australian, and Swedish males were comparable, whereas these effects were weaker in the UK sample. Findings confirmed the importance of internalization of sociocultural body ideals in the tested models.
authors.affiliation: Northeastern University, Department of Counseling & Applied Educational Psychology, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: d.franko@neu.edu.
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Franko
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Faculty of Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Northeastern University, Department of Counseling & Applied Educational Psychology, Boston, MA, USA; Laboratoire de Stress Traumatique, EA 4560, Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Rachel F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.affiliation: University of Gothenburg, Department of Psychology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holmqvist Gattario
authors.affiliation: University of Gothenburg, Department of Psychology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frisén
authors.affiliation: University of the West of England, Centre for Appearance Research, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Phillippa C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Diedrichs
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Faculty of Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Lina A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ricciardelli
authors.affiliation: Victoria University, College of Education, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Zali
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yager
authors.affiliation: Kenyon College, Department of Psychology, Gambier, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smolak
authors.affiliation: Boston University, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thompson-Brenner
authors.affiliation: Boston University, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Shingleton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D001823:Body Composition; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D013548:Sweden; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body image; Cross-cultural; Internalization; Males; Masculinity; Risk factors