Self-esteem and body dissatisfaction among homosexual and heterosexual male college students

Authors

• Caíque Rossi Baldassarini Barão de Mauá University Center (CBM), Ribeirão Preto – SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2362-9795
• Lucas Barros Bianchini Barão de Mauá University Center (CBM), Ribeirão Preto – SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9269-3657
• Pedro Henrique Rodrigues da Silva Institute of Psychiatry (IPq) – Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo Medical School (HC/FMUSP), São Paulo – SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0230-7474
• Larissa Cristina Mazer Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo (EERP/USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3774-0750
• Lucas Cordeiro Lins Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos - SP/Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1997-2689
• Graziela Aparecida Nogueira de Almeida Ribeiro Barão de Mauá University Center (CBM), Ribeirão Preto - SP/Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0824-8206

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17058/psiunisc.v10i.19476

Keywords:

self concept, body dissatisfaction, sexual and gender minorities, men, students

Abstract

Introduction: College-aged men face various challenges that can compromise their mental health, including difficulties related to self-esteem and body dissatisfaction. Evidence suggests that these factors tend to be more pronounced among members of sexual minorities. However, studies comparing these phenomena between heterosexual and homosexual men remain scarce. Objectives: To compare self-esteem and body dissatisfaction among homosexual and heterosexual college-aged men. Method: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional, observational, and analytical study. One hundred male college students residing in the state of São Paulo participated, including 50 gay men and 50 straight men, who completed a questionnaire covering sociodemographic information, sexual orientation, weight, and height; the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; and the Short Form of the Male Body Dissatisfaction Scale. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson’s chi-square test, and Spearman’s correlation. Results: Unsatisfactory self-esteem was observed in most participants in both groups, and greater dissatisfaction with muscle tone was found among homosexuals. No correlation was observed between Body Mass Index (BMI), self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction. Conclusion: The findings suggest that sexual orientation may be associated with specific patterns of body dissatisfaction, particularly regarding musculature, even though self-esteem does not differentiate between the groups, highlighting the importance of considering social and identity factors in understanding the mental health of this population.

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