Gender Differences in the Level of Body Image Satisfaction

The main purpose of this study is to describe gender differences in body image and to explore the influences of psychosocial factors on it. The study has been conducted via survey method and data collected by self-administered questionnaire. The universe of the study was all students of the University of Mazandaran in 2010. Overall, 360 students (130 male and 230 female, M= 22) were chosen through availability sampling method. Descriptive results of the study show a significant gender difference in the body image satisfaction, that is; young females are more satisfied bodily than males. Moreover, analytical results indicate that; such variables as appeareance orientation (body investment), body surveillance, body shame and self esteem could predict body image satisfaction among total sample, significantly. However, there is a significant gender difference regarding body shame, namely; in addition to self-esteem and body investment, females’ body image satisfaction was predicted by level of body shame (as a subscale of self-objectification). This may reflect the high pressure of social expectation about ideal body on the females. Furthermore, there is a gender difference on the level of body investment, showing that compred to males, young females report greater investment on their bodies and engage in extensive grooming behaviors. Finally, self esteem results to higher levels of both body image satisfaction and body areas satisfaction.