Body‐Image Attitudes: What Difference Does Gender Make?¹

TLDR

Attitudinal body image is a multidimensional construct that includes evaluation, cognitive‑behavioral investment, and affect. This study examined gender differences in body‑image attitudes among college students. College students (n = 277) completed two standardized measures of each of the three body‑image facets. Women reported more negative evaluations, greater appearance investment, and more dysphoria than men, with larger affect differences (d = 0.76) than evaluation (d = 0.51) or investment (d = 0.40); weight was linearly related to evaluation/affect in women but curvilinearly in men, and affect was predicted by combined evaluation and investment for both genders, underscoring important scientific and clinical implications.

Abstract

Attitudinal body image is a multidimensional construct that includes body‐image evaluation, cognitive‐behavioral investment, and affect. This study examined the nature and extent of gender differences in body‐image attitudes. College students ( n = 277) completed 2 standardized measures of each of the 3 facets of body image. As hypothesized, relative to men, women had more negative body‐image evaluations, greater investments in their appearance, and more frequent, cross‐situational body‐image dysphoria. Gender differences on body‐image affect ( d= .76) surpassed those on evaluation ( d = .51) and investment ( d = .40). Body weight and body‐image evaluation/affect were linearly related for women, but curvilinearly related for men. For both genders, body‐image affect was a predictable function of evaluation and investment combined. Scientific and clinical implications are discussed.