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Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Restricted Thesis: Campus only access

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Adam Stanaland

Abstract

People experience pressure to conform to gendered appearance norms, especially when their masculinity or femininity is questioned. In Study 1, we analyzed 394 U.S. adults on social anxieties reinforcing gendered appearance. In Study 2, we analyzed 344 U.S. adults by further investigating the effect of this relationship in shaping health-related behaviors. We tested regression models to determine whether fear of disapproval predicts increased desire to appear stereotypical, which in turn predicts willingness to engage in riskier appearance-enhancing behaviors. Our results revealed that social approval concerns significantly increase the likelihood of engaging in such behaviors, separately for men and women. Our results also showed that desired physical characteristics differed between and within men and women. Data analysis revealed two main categories of men, Conventional Masculine and Looksmaxxing. For women, the two groups were Masculine and Feminine. Each group significantly differed on their approval motivation scores as well as the consequent health behaviors they were likely to seek out. The present study showcases how interpersonal pressures surrounding gender not only influence identity presentation but also drive potentially harmful health decisions.

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