Young men who feel good about their looks are more likely than their peers with a less positive body image to engage in risky sexual behavior, a new study of college students shows.The men who were most satisfied with their appearance, and the most appearance-oriented — meaning they were highly invested in their looks and considered appearance to be important — were also the most likely to have sex without condoms and to have sex with multiple partners….Among young women, in contrast, those with a more positive body image were less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, [Dr. Eva S. Lefkowitz of Pennsylvania State University in University Park and colleagues] found.
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While sexually active students reported less dissatisfaction with their looks and a more positive body image on average, “it’s important to point out that we don’t know which comes first,” Lefkowitz said. People who feel better about their looks may be more likely to have sex, or being sexually active may confer a better body image, she explained.
For more, see the Reuters report as published in The Sydney Morning Herald, March 28, 2006.
