Social networking sites and men’s drive for muscularity: Testing a revised objectification model.
Open accessAbstract
The contribution of social media to men’s drive for muscularity (DM) has received limited research attention. This study drew on a revised objectification theory to predict attitudes and behaviors pertaining to DM that arise from using social networking sites (SNSs). A sample of 303 undergraduate men, aged 17–25 years, completed online questionnaire measures of engagement in three SNS activities (browsing or following celebrity, fashion, and grooming sites, browsing or following fitspiration sites, and placing importance on online “likes” and comments). Also assessed were body surveillance, social appearance anxiety, and two indices of DM (attitudes and behavior). Structural equation modeling was used to test an objectification theory-based model of the antecedents of DM. Results supported a serial mediation process comprising paths from two of the SNS activities (browsing or following celebrity, fashion, and grooming sites and placing importance on online “likes” and comments) through, in turn, body surveillance and social appearance anxiety, to DM attitudes but not to DM behaviors. Viewing fitspiration sites predicted DM behaviors and attitudes directly, rather than indirectly. Findings extend objectification theory as a useful framework for identifying the influence of some SNS uses on young men’s DM and suggest strategies through which the negative effects of SNS use on excessive DM may be curtailed.
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Recent work has highlighted the need to further understand the pervasiveness of presentations of male lean and muscular appearance ideals on social media, and potential effects on internalization of the muscular ideal, appearance anxiety, and body dissatisfaction.
“Recent work has highlighted the need to further understand the pervasiveness of presentations of male lean and muscular appearance ideals on SM (Gültzow et al., 2020), and potential effects on internalization of the muscular ideal, appearance anxiety, and body dissatisfaction (Fatt et al., 2019; Seekis et al., 2021).”
From The Perfect Storm: A Developmental-Sociocultural Framework for the Role of Social Media in Adolescent Girls' Body Image Concerns and Mental Health. (2022) · cites this paper as Seekis et al., 2021
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- Authors
- Seekis, V., Bradley, G. L., & Duffy, A. L.
- Venue
- Psychology of Men & Masculinities
- Published
- 2021-01
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 189-200
- ISSN
- 1524-9220 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-151X
- OpenAlex
- W3016083948
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 69
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 1.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- Psychology of Men & Masculinity (publishedVersion)
- Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
- Keywords
- drive for muscularity, objectification theory, social networking sites, men's body image, body surveillance, social appearance anxiety, fitspiration, young men, serial mediation
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