Influences of Media and Stigmas on Male Eating Disorders Essay

Abstract

There are various biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to all conditions or disorders (Fitcher & Krenn, 2003) This literature review discusses biological, psychological, and social factors that influence disordered eating, specifically in males. Additionally, this review emphasizes the effect that social stigmas and media have on feelings of body dissatisfaction which, in turn, can be associated with symptoms of eating disorders. Unfortunately, today’s society continuously exposes, both, men and women to messages that tell them their body is what defines them (Duggan & McCreary, 2004). Such messages can be conveyed through social factors like advertisements, stigmatized gender roles, parents, and media (Ricciardelli & McCabe, 2004).  It has been found that exposure to these factors may lead to internalization of the media’s pre-conceived notions of the “perfect man”, which can be linked to increased body dissatisfaction (Thompson and Stick, 2001). For the majority of males, muscle-oriented body dissatisfaction led to a drive for muscularity (McCreary and Sasse, 2000). Conclusively, uncontrollable biological factors, sociocultural influences, and psychological turmoil are associated with body dissatisfaction and symptomatic disordered-eating in males. Influences of Media and Stigmas on Male Eating Disorders Essay