Body image in boys: A review of the literature

Objective: Both scientific research and popular attention have begun to foc us on the neglected issue of body image in boys. We reviewed the findings o f this emerging literature. Method: Using computer and manual search techni ques, we located 17 studies that assessed body image attitudes in boys unde r age 18. Results: We located 17 studies, most performed within the last lo years. Eight studies used exclusively questionnaires or interviews; the re st also used figure drawings from which the subjects could choose specific images in answer to questions. Although boys generally displayed less overa ll body concern than girls, many boys of all ages reported dissatisfaction with their bodies, often associated with reduced self-esteem. Whereas girls typically wanted to be thinner, boys frequently wanted to be bigger. Howev er, most studies failed to distinguish between "bigness" due to increased m uscle and that due to fat. Conclusions: Body image dissatisfaction in boys is common and often associated with distress. To better assess this phenome non, future studies should take care to separate the indices of muscle and fat. (C) 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.