Average Joes: Men's relationships with media, real bodies, and sexuality.

Abstract

Although numerous studies have examined women’s body attitudes in relation to media and sexuality, fewer studies have explored these relations among men. Accordingly, the authors investigated the contributions of media to men’s body attitudes and examined how such attitudes relate to sexual decision making. One hundred eighty-four male undergraduates reported media use, body attitudes, and sexual behaviors. Regular media use was related to greater acceptance of the shape and performance of one’s body but decreased comfort with aspects of one’s real body, such as hair and sweat. Comfort with these aspects of one’s real body predicted greater sexual assertiveness and risk-reduction behaviors. Furthermore, comfort with similar aspects of female partners’ real bodies was related to greater intimacy in sexual relationships.