Gender Role Conflict, Drive for Muscularity, and the Impact of Ideal Media Portrayals on Men

The current study examined the effects of exposure to ideal print-based masculine images on men's body esteem, self-esteem, and drive for muscularity. Eighty-two college-age men were exposed to magazine images of muscular men or neutral images. Supporting the authors' hypotheses, men who viewed muscular images reported significantly lower body esteem than men in the neutral (control) group. The hypotheses regarding the impact of media portrayals on self-esteem and drive for muscularity as well as the moderating effects of gender role conflict and drive for muscularity were not supported. Findings are discussed within the context of related theory and research on men's body image, and suggestions for further research are provided.