Identity resilience, attachment style and life satisfaction in heterosexual and gay men: The mediating effect of body image concerns.

• Autores: Rusi Jaspal
• Localización: International Journal of Social Psychology, Revista de Psicología Social, ISSN-e 1579-3680, ISSN 0213-4748, Vol. 41, Nº 1, 2026, págs. 3-23
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1177/02134748251401020
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Resiliencia identitaria, estilo de apego y satisfacción con la vida en hombres heterosexuales y homosexuales: El efecto mediador de la preocupación por la imagen corporal.
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • español

    Hay una comprensión limitada de los fundamentos sociopsicológicos de la satisfacción con la vida en hombres heterosexuales y homosexuales. Este estudio examina el papel de la orientación sexual, la resiliencia identitaria, el estilo de apego y la preocupación por la imagen corporal. Los datos de una encuesta transversal correlacional realizada a 427 hombres del Reino Unido y Alemania, analizados mediante modelos de ecuaciones estructurales, mostraron que las variables de rasgo de resiliencia identitaria y estilo de apego ansioso tenían efectos directos sobre la satisfacción con la vida y efectos indirectos a través de la mediación de la preocupación por la imagen corporal. La orientación sexual solo tuvo un efecto indirecto en la satisfacción con la vida a través de la mediación de la preocupación por la imagen corporal. Una mayor resiliencia identitaria puede funcionar como un factor protector frente a la preocupación por la imagen corporal, mientras que un estilo de apego ansioso puede funcionar como un factor de riesgo para dicha preocupación, las cuales a su vez están asociadas con la satisfacción con la vida. Los hombres homosexuales pueden tener un mayor riesgo de disminución de la satisfacción con la vida debido a su mayor probabilidad de experimentar preocupación por la imagen corporal. Las intervenciones psicoterapéuticas que apoyan el desarrollo de la resiliencia identitaria a la vez que abordan el apego inseguro pueden prevenir la preocupación por la imagen corporal, mejorando así la satisfacción con la vida.

  • English

    There is limited insight into the social psychological underpinnings of life satisfaction in heterosexual and gay men. This study examines the roles of sexual orientation, identity resilience, attachment style and body image concerns. Cross-sectional correlational survey data from 427 men in the United Kingdom and Germany, analysed using structural equation modelling, showed that the trait variables of identity resilience and anxious attachment style had direct effects on life satisfaction and indirect effects through the mediation of body image concerns. Sexual orientation had only an indirect effect on life satisfaction through the mediation of body image concerns. Higher identity resilience may operate as a protective factor against, and anxious attachment style as a risk factor for, body image concerns which in turn are associated with life satisfaction. Gay men may be at higher risk of decreased life satisfaction through their higher likelihood of experiencing body image concerns. Psychotherapeutic interventions that support the development of identity resilience while addressing insecure attachment may prevent body image concerns, thereby enhancing life satisfaction.

• Referencias bibliográficas
  • Austen E., Bonell S., Griffiths S. (2022). Fat is feminine: A qualitative study of how weight stigma is constructed among sexual minority...
  • Azizli N., Atkinson B. E., Baughman H. M., Giammarco E. A. (2015). Relationships between general self-efficacy, planning for the future, and...
  • Bartram D. (2023). Sexual orientation and life satisfaction. Journal of Sociology, 59(1), 20–35.
  • Bilsker D., Fogarty A. S., Wakefield M. A. (2018). Critical issues in men’s mental health. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 63(9), 590–596.
  • Bowlby J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment. Basic Books.
  • Bowlby J. (1973). Attachment and loss: Vol. 2. Separation: Anxiety and anger. Basic Books.
  • Breakwell G. M. (2021). Identity resilience: Its origins in identity processes and its role in coping with threat. Contemporary Social Science,...
  • Breakwell G. M., Fino E., Jaspal R. (2022). The Identity Resilience Index: Development and validation in two UK samples. Identity: An International...
  • Breakwell G. M., Jaspal R. (2022). Coming out, distress and identity threat in gay men in the United Kingdom. Sexuality Research & Social...
  • Carper T. L., Negy C., Tantleff-Dunn S. (2010). Relations among media influence, body image, eating concerns, and sexual orientation in men:...
  • Cash T. F., Thériault J., Annis N. M. (2004). Body image in an interpersonal context: Adult attachment, fear of intimacy, and social anxiety....
  • Cheng H.-L., Mallinckrodt B. (2009). Parental bonds, anxious attachment, media internalization, and body image dissatisfaction: Exploring...
  • Dahlenburg S. C., Gleaves D. H., Hutchinson A. D., Coro D. G. (2020). Body image disturbance and sexual orientation: An updated systematic...
  • Davila J., Levy K. N. (2006). Introduction to the special section on attachment theory and psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical...
  • Davis L. L., Fowler S. A., Best L. A., Both L. E. (2020). The role of body image in the prediction of life satisfaction and flourishing in...
  • Diener E., Emmons R. A., Larsen R. J., Griffin S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71–75.
  • Diener E., Lucas R. E., Oishi S. (2002). Subjective well-being: The science of happiness and life satisfaction. In Snyder C. R, Lopez S. J....
  • Dulai J., Jaspal R. (2024). Social connectedness and identity resilience buffer against minority stress and enhance life satisfaction in ethnic...
  • Duncan D. (2010). Embodying the gay self: Body image, reflexivity and embodied identity. Health Sociology Review, 19(4), 437–450.
  • EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2020). EU-LGBTI II: A long way to go for LGBTI equality. https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2020/eu-lgbti-survey-results
  • Faul F., Erdfelder E., Lang A. G., Buchner A. (2007). G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral,...
  • Filice E., Raffoul A., Meyer S. B., Neiterman E. (2020). The impact of social media on body image perceptions and bodily practices among gay,...
  • Frederick D. A., Essayli J. H. (2016). Male body image: The roles of sexual orientation and body mass index across five national U.S. studies....
  • Frost D. M., Meyer I. H. (2023). Minority stress theory: Application, critique, and continued relevance. Current Opinion in Psychology, 51,...
  • Frost J., McKelvie S. (2004). Self-esteem and body satisfaction in male and female elementary school, high school, and university students....
  • Gillespie B. J., Frederick D., Harari L., Grov C. (2015). Homophily, close friendship, and life satisfaction among gay, lesbian, heterosexual,...
  • Grabe S., Ward L. M., Hyde J. S. (2008). The role of the media in body image concerns among women: A meta-analysis of experimental and correlational...
  • Grogan S., Richards H. (2002). Body image: Focus groups with boys and men. Men and Masculinities, 4(3), 219–232.
  • Helliwell J. F., Layard R., Sachs J. D., De Neve J.-E., Aknin L. B., Wang S. (Eds.). (2024). World Happiness Report 2024. Wellbeing Research...
  • Homan K. J., Wild S., Dillon K. R., Shimrock R. (2018). ‘Don’t bring me down’: Effects of priming secure and anxious attachment on body image....
  • Houkamau C., Stronge S., Warbrick I., Dell K., Mika J., Newth J., Sibley C., Kha K. L. (2021). Cultural efficacy predicts body satisfaction...
  • Iwanaga K., Blake J., Yaghmaian R., Umucu E., Chan F., Brooks J. M., Rahimi M., Tansey T. N. (2018). Preliminary validation of a short-form...
  • Jaspal R. (2018). Enhancing sexual health, self-identity and wellbeing among men who have sex with men: A guide for practitioners. Jessica...
  • Jaspal R. (2024). Identity resilience, relationships, and life satisfaction: Data from two cross-sectional survey studies in the United Kingdom....
  • Jaspal R., Assi M., Maatouk I. (2022). Coping styles in heterosexual and non-heterosexual students in Lebanon: A cross-sectional study. International...
  • Jaspal R., Breakwell G. M. (2022). Identity resilience, social support and internalized homonegativity in gay men. Psychology and Sexuality,...
  • Ji L. J., Imtiaz F., Su Y., Zhang Z., Bowie A. C., Chang B. (2022). Culture, aging, self-continuity, and life satisfaction. Journal of Happiness...
  • Jones D. C., Bain N., King S. (2008). Weight and muscularity concerns as longitudinal predictors of body image among early adolescent boys:...
  • Kardasz Z., Gerymski R., Parker A. (2023). Anxiety, attachment styles and life satisfaction in the Polish LGBTQ+ community. International...
  • Kimmel S. B., Mahalik J. R. (2005). Body image concerns of gay men: The roles of minority stress and conformity to masculine norms. Journal...
  • Lavy S., Littman-Ovadia H. (2011). All you need is love? Strengths mediate the negative associations between attachment orientations and life...
  • McCreary D. R., Sasse D. K. (2000). An exploration of the drive for muscularity in adolescent boys and girls. Journal of American College...
  • Morgan J. F., Arcelus J. (2009). Body image in gay and straight men: A qualitative study. European Eating Disorders Review, 17(6), 435–443.
  • Pahlevan Sharif S., Amiri M., Allen K. A., Sharif Nia H., Khoshnavay Fomani F., Hatef Matbue Y., Goudarzian A. H., Arefi S., Yaghoobzadeh...
  • Pope H. G., Gruber A. J., Mangweth B., Bureau B., deCol C., Jouvent R., Hudson J. I. (2000). Body image perception among men in three countries....
  • Powdthavee N., Wooden M. (2015). Life satisfaction and sexual minorities: Evidence from Australia and the United Kingdom. Journal of Economic...
  • Ricciardelli L. A. (2012). Body image development - Adolescent boys. In Cash T. F. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of body image and human appearance...
  • Ricciardelli L. A., McCabe M. P. (2011). Body image development in adolescent boys. In Cash T. F., Smolak L. (Eds.), Body image: A handbook...
  • Shahyad S., Besharat M. A., Asadi M., Alipour A. S., Miri M. (2011). The relation of attachment and perceived social support with life satisfaction:...
  • Szcześniak M., Mazur P., Rodzeń W., Szpunar K. (2021). Influence of life satisfaction on self- esteem among young adults: The mediating role...
  • Waring A., Kernes J. L., Bui N. H. (2023). The role of attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and grit on life satisfaction and relationship...
  • Weisman H. L., Patten E., Montanez-Leaks M., Yee M., Darcy A. M., Mazina V., Zhang A., Bailey J. O., Jones M., Trockel M., Barr Taylor C....