title: Perceived impact of body feedback from romantic partners on young adults' body image and sexual well-being.
abstract: This study investigated the messages individuals receive from their partners about their bodies and their perceived impact on body image and sexual well-being. Young adult men (n=35) and women (n=57) completed open-ended questions identifying messages they had received from partners and the impact of these messages on their body image and sexual well-being. Content coding revealed three verbal (expressions of approval and pride, challenging negative beliefs, expressions of sexual attraction/arousal/desire) and two nonverbal (physical affection, physical expressions of sexual attraction/arousal/desire) positive messages as well as one verbal (disapproval/disgust) and two nonverbal (rejection, humiliation) negative messages. Some participants reported gender-related messages (muscularity/strength, genital appearance, breast appearance, weight, and comparison to others). Positive messages were seen to increase confidence, self-acceptance, and sexual empowerment/fulfillment, whereas negative messages decreased these feelings. Our findings suggest that even everyday, seemingly neutral messages are perceived to have an important impact on young adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Electronic address: kaitlyn.goldsmith@unb.ca.
authors.forename: Kaitlyn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
authors.forename: E Sandra
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Byers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009042:Motivation; D009948:Orgasm; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body image; Partner communication; Romantic partners; Romantic relationships; Sexuality; Young adults