Body‐Image Attitudes: What Difference Does Gender Make?¹

Attitudinal body image is a multidimensional construct that includes body‐image evaluation, cognitive‐behavioral investment, and affect. This study examined the nature and extent of gender differences in body‐image attitudes. College students ( n = 277) completed 2 standardized measures of each of the 3 facets of body image. As hypothesized, relative to men, women had more negative body‐image evaluations, greater investments in their appearance, and more frequent, cross‐situational body‐image dysphoria. Gender differences on body‐image affect ( d= .76) surpassed those on evaluation ( d = .51) and investment ( d = .40). Body weight and body‐image evaluation/affect were linearly related for women, but curvilinearly related for men. For both genders, body‐image affect was a predictable function of evaluation and investment combined. Scientific and clinical implications are discussed.