The shape of things : Male body image amongst South African University Students

[摘要] This research explored trends in male body image amongst South African men aged 18 to25 years. A questionnaire consisting of a demographic section, the Body Image Test, theBehaviours Checklist and the Eating Disorders Inventory was administered to 50 malestudents from the University of the Witwatersrand. Trends in body dissatisfaction, bodyenhancing behaviour and eating disorder symptoms were examined. Correlation analyseswere used to infer relationships between these three variables.The results showed that the sample group on average view themselves as overly muscularand have a body image ideal that is less muscular than their perceived body image. Thistrend is contrary to trends reported in international studies and is thought to represent thecultural effects of using a South African population that is diverse in its composition ascompared to an American or European samples that are more homogenous in nature. Theresults also showed that there were differences in body image trends between differentracial groupings, although the results did indicate that across the racial groupings therewas a similar societal body image ideal that represents a global trend towards a lean,muscular male body image. The results showed that the sample did not engage in bodyenhancing behaviours that are considered excessive or indicative of body imagedissatisfaction. This was also reflected by the results on the Eating Disorders Inventorythat showed considerably lower scores on the symptom scales when compared to aclinical eating disordered population and a non-clinical female comparison group. Theresults also showed that the sample had lower scores on the behavioural symptom scalesyet higher scores on the attitudinal symptom scales. This indicates that the sample did notdisplay any significant eating disorder behaviours yet did display personality traits thatare correlated to eating disordered behaviour.There was no correlation between body dissatisfaction and body enhancing behaviour.There was a positive correlation between body dissatisfaction and the symptom scale ofinterpersonal distrust. A positive correlation also occurred between body enhancingbehaviour and the symptom scales for perfection and drive for thinness. Limitations ofthe study and recommendations for future research are discussed.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand