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Body Image Concerns and Contingent Self-Esteem in Male and Female College Students

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Abstract

Body dissatisfaction in females, and to a lesser extent males, is associated with low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders. This research examined gender as a moderator of the association between contingent self-esteem and body image concerns, including weight and muscularity. Participants included 359 (59.1% female) heavy drinking first-year U.S. undergraduate students who completed a survey assessing health-related risk behaviors. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine relations among gender, contingent self-esteem, and body image. Females reported higher levels of contingent self-esteem and greater concerns about their weight, although males reported a greater drive for muscularity. The relationship between contingent self-esteem and weight concerns was stronger among females, and for males, greater contingent self-esteem was associated with a greater drive for muscularity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 1100 NE 45th St., Suite 300, Box 354944, Seattle, WA, 98195-1525, USA

    Joel R. Grossbard, Christine M. Lee, Clayton Neighbors & Mary E. Larimer

Authors
  1. Joel R. Grossbard
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  2. Christine M. Lee
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  3. Clayton Neighbors
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  4. Mary E. Larimer
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Correspondence to Joel R. Grossbard.

Additional information

This research was supported in part by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U01AA014742) awarded to Mary E. Larimer.

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Grossbard, J.R., Lee, C.M., Neighbors, C. et al. Body Image Concerns and Contingent Self-Esteem in Male and Female College Students. Sex Roles 60, 198–207 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-008-9535-y

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