Date of Award
5-2024
Degree Type
Honors College Thesis
Academic Program
Child and Family Sciences BS
Department
Child and Family Studies
First Advisor
Bryan Spuhler, Ph.D.
Advisor Department
Child and Family Studies
Abstract
Previous research on sexual anxiety among emerging adults has consistently reported gendered differences in sexual anxiety levels with women reporting significantly higher levels of sexual anxiety than their male peers. As sexual anxiety is linked to several aspects of sexual functioning and enjoyment, this gendered discrepancy bears further investigation. Past literature has explored factors that may be influencing sexual anxiety in emerging adults, and body shame has emerged as a potential contributing factor. Using Objectification Theory as a basis, this study seeks to understand the coexisting relationships between gender, body shame, and sexual anxiety. This study hypothesizes a model wherein body shame may act as a mediator between gender and sexual anxiety. Through recruiting 293 participants aged 18-26 at The University of Southern Mississippi to complete an anonymous online questionnaire, a mediational model test between these factors was conducted. Results indicated that body shame fully mediates the relationship between gender and sexual anxiety, and body shame is significantly correlated with sexual anxiety across both genders. Consistent with previous literature, women were also more likely to report higher rates of body shame and sexual anxiety than men. These findings provide a clearer understanding of the impact of body shame on emerging adults’ sexual anxiety, which has important implications for educators, mental health professionals, and researchers. Similarly, these results highlight how body shame stemming from gendered differences in sexual objectification may be contributing to higher rates of sexual anxiety among women.
Copyright
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Recommended Citation
Hanby, Allison, "Gender, Body Shame, and Sexual Anxiety: A Mediational Model Among College Students" (2024). Honors Theses. 984.
https://aquila.usm.edu/honors_theses/984