Body dissatisfaction levels and gender differences in attentional biases toward idealized bodies

Attentional bias toward idealized bodies (men: muscular; women: thin) may cause upward comparisons and increase body dissatisfaction (BD). We investigated attentional biases of 39 men and 41 women with high and low BD toward muscular male bodies and thin female bodies. An eye-tracker measured gaze durations and fixation frequencies while exposing participants to images of thin, normal, muscular, and fat bodies of the same gender. Results revealed longer and more frequent attention toward muscular bodies in high BD men, and toward thin bodies in high BD women. High BD men and women also rated muscular and thin bodies as more attractive than those with low BD. Although men attended to muscular and women attended to thin bodies, both showed an attentional bias toward body types they rated as more attractive. These findings could provide indirect evidence in explaining the relationship between BD and the social comparison theory with attentional bias.

► Identified an attentional bias during exposure to body images using eye-tracking.
► An attentional bias toward idealized bodies may increase body dissatisfaction (BD).
► Participants with high BD perceived idealized bodies as more attractive.
► Men with high BD showed an attentional bias toward muscular male bodies.
► Women with high BD showed an attentional bias toward thin female bodies.