Abstract:
The purpose of this research study was to examine the relationships that body dissatisfaction had with self-esteem, internalization of media influence, and the three aspects of self-objectification in 233 gay and heterosexual male undergraduates. Participant responded to a set of questionnaires measuring body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, internalization of media influence, and self-objectification (i.e., body surveillance, body shame, and control belief). An Independent sample t-test as well as Pearsons Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis were used to analyze the data. Findings were as follows: 1. Gay participants scored significantly higher on body dissatisfaction than heterosexual participants (t(231) = 6.65, p < .001). 2. For gay participants, when examined together, self-esteem, internalization of media influence, and self-objectification significantly predicted body dissatisfaction and accounted for 60% of its variance (R2 = .60, p < .001). 3. For heterosexual participants, when examined together, self-esteem, internalization of media influence, and self-objectification significantly predicted body dissatisfaction and accounted for 31% of its variance (R2 = .31, p < .001).