Body Satisfaction and Physical Appearance in Gender Dysphoria

Gender dysphoria (GD) is often accompanied by dissatisfaction with physical appearance and body image problems. The aim of this study was to compare body satisfaction with perceived appearance by others in various GD subgroups. 

Data collection was part of the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence. Between 2007 and 2012, 660 adults who fulfilled the criteria of the DSM-IV gender identity disorder diagnosis (1.31:1 male-to-female [MtF]:female-to-male [FtM] ratio) were included into the study. Data were collected before the start of clinical gender-confirming interventions. Sexual orientation was measured via a semi-structured interview whereas onset age was based on clinician report. Body satisfaction was assessed using the Body Image Scale. Congruence of appearance with the experienced gender was measured by means of a clinician rating. 

Overall, FtMs had a more positive body image than MtFs. Besides genital dissatisfaction, problem areas for MtFs included posture, face, and hair, whereas FtMs were mainly dissatisfied with hip and chest regions. Clinicians evaluated the physical appearance to be more congruent with the experienced gender in FtMs than in MtFs. Within the MtF group, those with early onset GD and an androphilic sexual orientation had appearances more in line with their gender identity. In conclusion, body image problems in GD go beyond sex characteristics only. 

An incongruent physical appearance may result in more difficult psychological adaptation and in more exposure to discrimination and stigmatization.

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/h6yHWx

By:  van de Grift TC1,2, Cohen-Kettenis PT3, Steensma TD3, De Cuypere G4, Richter-Appelt H5, Haraldsen IR6, Dikmans RE7, Cerwenka SC5, Kreukels BP3.

• 1Department of Medical Psychology, Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. t.vandegrift@vumc.nl.
• 2Department of Plastic, Reconstructive & Hand Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. t.vandegrift@vumc.nl.
• 3Department of Medical Psychology, Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• 4Center of Sexology and Gender Problems, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
• 5Department of Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
• 6Department of Neuropsychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
• 7Department of Plastic, Reconstructive & Hand Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 
• Arch Sex Behav. 2016 Apr;45(3):607-17. doi: 10.1007/s10508-015-0657-3. Epub 2016 Jan 12.

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Body Dissatisfaction among Sexual Minority Men: Psychological and Sexual Health Outcomes

Body dissatisfaction is common among sexual minority (i.e., gay and bisexual) men; however, few studies have investigated the relationship between body dissatisfaction and psychosexual health variables among this population. 

The data that do exist are exclusively cross-sectional, casting uncertainty regarding temporal associations. Thus, the aims of the current study were to assess the prospective relationship between body dissatisfaction and psychological and sexual health outcomes. 

Participants were 131 gay and bisexual men who completed a battery of self-report measures across two time points (baseline and 3-month follow-up), including assessment of body dissatisfaction, depressive symptoms, and sexual health variables (sexual self-efficacy and sexual anxiety). Generalized linear modeling was employed to assess the prospective relationship between body dissatisfaction and outcomes variables, accounting for non-normal distributions. Body dissatisfaction significantly predicted elevated depressive symptoms (B = .21, p = .01), lower sexual self-efficacy (B = −.22, p = .04), and elevated sexual anxiety (B = .05, p = .03). Elevated body dissatisfaction is prospectively associated with negative psychological and sexual health outcomes. 

Given the high prevalence of body image concerns in sexual minority men, depression and/or HIV/STI prevention programs may benefit from routinely assessing for body dissatisfaction among this population, and addressing those who report concerns.

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By:  Blashill AJ1,2, Tomassilli J3, Biello K4,5, O'Cleirigh C4,6,7, Safren SA8, Mayer KH4,7,9.

• 1Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 6363 Alvarado Court, Suite 103, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA. aaron.blashill@sdsu.edu.
• 2SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA. aaron.blashill@sdsu.edu.
• 3California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, USA.
• 4The Fenway Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
• 5Department of Behavioral & Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
• 6Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
• 7Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
• 8Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
• 9Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. 
• Arch Sex Behav. 2016 Feb 8.

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Body Dissatisfaction in a Diverse Sample of Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: The P18 Cohort Study

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) may be at greater risk for body dissatisfaction, compared to their heterosexual peers. However, differences within YMSM populations are understudied, precluding the identification of YMSM who are at greatest risk. 

This study examined body dissatisfaction in a racially/ethnically diverse sample of YMSM ages 18-19 in New York City. Using cross-sectional data from the baseline visit of a longitudinal cohort study of YMSM (N = 591), body dissatisfaction was assessed using the Male Body Attitudes Scale. Three outcomes were modeled using linear regression: (1) overall body dissatisfaction, (2) muscularity dissatisfaction, and (3) body fat dissatisfaction. Covariates in the models included race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, BMI, gay community affiliation, and internalized homonegativity. 

• White YMSM experienced greater body dissatisfaction across the three models. 
• Internalized homonegativity was a statistically significant predictor of dissatisfaction across the three models, though its association with body dissatisfaction was relatively small. 

The findings point to future avenues of research, particularly qualitative research to explore demographic and cultural nuances in body attitudes among YMSM.

Via: http://ht.ly/SqMtl  Purchase full article at: http://ht.ly/SqMBN 

By: Siconolfi DE1, Kapadia F2,3, Moeller RW4, Eddy JA2, Kupprat SA2, Kingdon MJ2, Halkitis PN5,6,7.

• 1Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
• 2Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
• 3NYU Global Institute of Public Heath, 41 East 11th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
• 4Department of Psychology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, USA.
• 5Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies, New York University, New York, NY, USA
• 6NYU Global Institute of Public Heath, 41 East 11th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10003, USA
• 7Langone School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA