The relationships among body image, masculinity, and sexual satisfaction in men

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among body image, masculinity, and subjective sexual satisfaction in men in order to develop a predictive model of sexual satisfaction. Previous researchers have found a relationship between negative body image and lower sexual satisfaction with women, but limited research exists assessing this relationship for men. Similarly, adherence to traditional masculine gender roles may influence sexual satisfaction by prescribing the scripts men use to evaluate their sexual experiences, though this has rarely been examined as well. This exploratory study sought to clarify the relationships among these variables in 153 college men (Age M = 21.43, SD = 4.05) from a southern private university in the United States. Results indicated that the set of variables explained 12.1% of the variance in sexual satisfaction with only 1 of the 5 variables having a significant unique influence on sexual satisfaction, F(5, 147) = 4.050, p < .01. Specifically, masculinity was identified as the only statistically significant predictor of sexual satisfaction for this sample (t = 3.231, p < .01, β = .238). The role of body image and masculinity variables in sexuality research with men in the future are discussed. © 2012 American Psychological Association.

Publication Title

Psychology of Men and Masculinity

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