Effects of the exposure to self- and other-referential bodies on state body image and negative affect in resistance-trained men

- One's own and the muscular body had the most negative effect on state body image.
- Negative affect only increased in response to pictures of one's own body.
- Gaze at disliked own body parts predicted a more negative post-exposure body image.
- Gaze behavior toward other bodies was not associated with post-exposure body image.

Previous body image research suggests that first, exposure to body stimuli can negatively affect men's body satisfaction and second, body concerns are associated with dysfunctional gaze behavior. To date, however, the effects of self- vs. other-referential body stimuli and of gaze behavior on body image in men under exposure conditions have not been investigated. Therefore, 49 weight-trained men were presented with pictures of their own and other bodies of different builds (i.e., normal, muscular, hyper-muscular) while being eye-tracked. Participants completed pre- and post-exposure measures of body image and affect. Results indicated that one's own and the muscular body negatively affected men's body image to a comparable degree. Exposure to one's own body also led to increased negative affect. Increased attention toward disliked own body parts was associated with a more negative post-exposure body image and affect. These results suggest a crucial role of critical self-examination in maintaining body dissatisfaction.