Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Rarick Susan

Abstract

Western culture has set unrealistic norms for physical appearance which can lead individuals to be dissatisfied with their bodies. Extensive research on body dissatisfaction and its psychological implications reveals this problem has increased in men, with the added dimension of acculturation. The level of acculturation and its relationship to body dissatisfaction in Latino men need further exploration because this population is projected to double by 2050. The purpose of this research study was to explore the relationship between the different levels of acculturation, body dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression among Latino men. Lev Vygotsky's sociocultural theory is applicable to this study because it focuses on social comparison and illuminates sociocultural communication involving appearance and attractiveness, important factors in the process of developing body image. The research questions focused on understanding the relationship between acculturation and body dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression in Latino men with a quantitative correlational research design that used the Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple linear regression analysis. The data were obtained via survey responses that use convenience sampling from 84 Latino men between the ages of 21 and 70. The results yielded a significant positive relationship between acculturation, body dissatisfaction, and depression. More specifically, as the participants' level of acculturation increased, body dissatisfaction and depression were more likely to increase. Implications for social change include knowledge useful for educational programs and/or mental health clinics to better explain the importance of acculturation for Latino men.

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