Young men’s body dissatisfaction: a qualitative analysis of anonymous online accounts

Candice Whitaker, Brendan Gough, Helen Fawkner, Nova Deighton-Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, body dissatisfaction in young men requires close examination. This study explores online accounts relating to male body image, including young men’s personal disclosures within one online newspaper article, and posts responding to this topic. Discursively informed thematic analysis indicated that non-disclosure was considered a problematic social expectation by the young men featured in the article. Also, reader posts variously constructed body dissatisfaction as a symptom of adolescence, a lack of self-care and an incapacity to capitalise on compensatory qualities. Our analysis suggests young men may welcome safe opportunities to critically discuss prevailing body image ideals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)636-649
JournalJournal of Health Psychology
Volume26
Issue number5
Early online date28 Feb 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • adolescence
  • body image
  • masculine economy
  • masculinity
  • online accounts

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