Although there have been only a few etiological studies that have examined the
development and maintenance of body image in males, research fairly consistently
reports that exposure and presumed comparison to images of ideal male bodies increases
body dissatisfaction. Social comparison provides individuals with a mechanism by
which to evaluate their body appearance to those around them. When individuals
compare their bodies to those of others, they are attempting to gauge their standing or
status relative to those around them, the results of which have inherent status
implications. There is increasing empirical evidence that suggests perceived increases in
status result in increased testosterone levels, whereas testosterone decreases when status
is perceived as having been diminished. Thus, the core of the present study: can the
process of comparing the appearance of oneÂ’s body to that of others affect the
testosterone levels, body satisfaction, and mood of males?
To examine the above research questions, a two-part study was designed. A pilot
study was conducted with 117 male undergraduates primarily to examine the
psychometrics of measures to be used in the main study. The measures appeared psychometrically sound and were thus used in the main study. In the main study, 129
male undergraduates were exposed to photographs of one of three male body types (i.e.,
lean/muscular, skinny, average) to determine whether or not exposure to the different
body types differentially affected participantsÂ’ testosterone levels, body satisfaction, and
mood. Results indicate that testosterone levels decreased over the course of the
experiment in each of the three groups; however, the body type to which participants
were exposed did not differentially affect participantsÂ’ testosterone levels. Body
dissatisfaction was greater among participants who viewed lean/muscular bodies than
those who viewed average bodies. Lastly, mood was not differentially affected by
viewing different types of male bodies. Implications and possible explanations for these
results are discussed
