Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences - Theses
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ItemExperiences and Outcomes of Weight Stigma Among Sexual Minority Men( 2022)Sexual minority men may be particularly vulnerable to weight stigma and its outcomes due to the potent appearance pressures they face; however, most research has examined weight stigma among samples of heterosexual women. Thus, this thesis sought to comprehensively examine the experiences and outcomes of weight stigma among sexual minority men. Chapter 1 examined whether sexual minority men are more vulnerable to weight stigma across two studies, finding that gay and bisexual men internalize more weight stigma than heterosexual men, and, in one study, that bisexual men reported more frequent experiences of weight stigma than gay and heterosexual men. Chapter 2 built on these findings by modelling the longitudinal relationships of weight stigma with psychological wellbeing and body mass index among nearly 3000 sexual minority men. Results revealed that weight stigma relates to these outcomes in a feedback loop, with internalized weight bias predicting weight gain and poorer psychological wellbeing, and vice-versa, over time. Chapter 3 qualitatively examined the unique attitudes that may account for sexual minority men’s increased vulnerability to weight stigma. Across 17 individual interviews, sexual minority men discussed the immense value of appearing masculine (i.e., visibly muscular) within the gay community. Fatness was constructed in opposition of this masculine ideal; thus, participants suggested fat men may be undesired within the gay community because they are perceived as less masculine. Chapter 4 complemented the empirical findings of the previous chapters, commenting specifically on the limited conceptual clarity within weight stigma research and how it may be remedied in future studies. Together, this thesis provides valuable insight into the nature of weight stigma among sexual minority men, finding that sexual minority men (1) are more vulnerable to weight stigma than heterosexual men, (2) report poorer mental health after internalizing this stigma, and (3) may be particularly vulnerable to weight stigma because of the immense value associated with appearing masculine within this population. This thesis illustrates the importance of broadening the demographic scope of weight stigma research and highlights sexual minority men as a population worth prioritising in future studies.