Hearing vs. engaging in negative body talk: an examination of adult men

ABSTRACT

This study examined the negative body talk both engaged in and heard by adult men as separate constructs and how both constructs are related to men’s body dissatisfaction and muscle dysmorphia. Data were collected from 260 adult men on negative body talk both engaged in and heard, body fat dissatisfaction, muscle dissatisfaction, and muscle dysmorphia. Results indicated that the muscle talk that men engaged in acted as a mediator between the relationship between the body talk men heard and muscle dissatisfaction. The same mediating relationship also existing for muscle dysmorphia symptoms. Similarly, the fat talk that men engaged in mediated the relationship between the fat talk that men heard from friends and body fat dissatisfaction. In addition, age was negatively related to muscle talk and body mass index was positively correlated with fat talk. These findings suggest that the relationship between the body talk that men hear from others and their body image may be explained by the body talk that men verbally engage in themselves.