| dc.description.abstract | Studies in the field of body image and sexuality have primarily focused on heterosexual men, while little is known about these phenomena in gay men. The present study investigated the association between body attitudes and sexual difficulties in gay men, and the mediating role of body self-consciousness during physical intimacy. In a cross-sectional design, 46 gay men completed an online survey including the Male Body Attitudes Scale and the 7-item Male Genital Self-Image Scale measuring body attitudes towards muscularity, body fat, height, and genitals, the Male Body Image Self-Consciousness Scale measuring the body self-consciousness during physical intimacy, and the Gay Male Sexual Difficulties Scale. Hypotheses were tested using correlation analyses and a mediation analysis with body attitudes as independent variables, body self-consciousness as mediator, and sexual dissatisfaction as dependent variable. Results of the correlation analyses showed that negative body attitudes and body self-consciousness during physical intimacy were significantly related to sexual dissatisfaction. The relationship between the negative body attitude towards height and sexual difficulties was negligible. The mediation analysis revealed that negative attitudes towards muscularity, body fat, and genitals had no positive indirect effects on sexual dissatisfaction through body self-consciousness during physical intimacy. Body image concerns in gay men and their sexual difficulties should be addressed from a gay perspective rather than a heterosexual one. | |
