Meta-Analyses of the Effects of Media Images on Men's Body-image Concerns

Abstract

Two meta-analyses were conducted to determine the extent to which pressure from the mass media to conform to the muscular “ideal” male body affects men's self-images (i.e., body satisfaction, body esteem, and self-esteem). A total of 25 studies contributing 93 effect sizes were included in two meta-analyses, which revealed that pressure from the mass media was significantly related to men feeling worse about their own bodies. The effect size from the meta-analysis of the correlational studies (Study 1) was significantly negative, d = −0.19, p < .001. The effect size from the meta-analysis of the experimental studies (Study 2) was also significantly negative, d = −0.22, p < .0001. Results from both Study 1 and Study 2 suggest that as men felt pressure from the mass media (in correlational and experimental designs) they felt worse about their bodies. Results showed that pressure from the mass media was related to body satisfaction, body esteem, self-esteem, psychological disorders (e.g., depression), and behavioral outcomes (e.g., excessive exercising).