Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

John J. Schmidt

Abstract

Body image issues are generally associated with a person’s dissatisfactions toward their body. Body image dissatisfaction can adversely affect a person’s mental and physical well-being, self-esteem, and behavior. Previous studies on men’s body image issues have focused on younger men, their desire for muscularity and mostly used quantitative research methodology. There is a gap in the literature regarding the effects of body image dissatisfaction on middle-aged men’s self-esteem and job performance using the qualitative research method. This study aimed to investigate body image perceptions of middle-aged men in Thailand aged 35-50 years to determine how their body image perceptions affect their self-esteem and job performance. The theoretical foundation for this study was the objectification theory and self-objectification theory. Ten middle-aged Thai men aged between 35 and 50 years who are currently employed or self-employed were recruited through purposeful and snowball samplings. The data collection strategy of this study was a semistructured interview. Findings revealed that having negative concerns with excessive weight gain and baldness were the primary sources of the participants’ body image dissatisfaction, which also negatively impacted their self-esteem. The social significance of this study may contribute to positive social change by providing understanding and guidance for human resource departments of organizations; for the man, if he is self-employed; and for the I/O psychologists working with middle-aged men who have experienced body image dissatisfaction to mitigate or solve these issues.

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