Abstract
Athletic activities are associated with reduced levels of stress and negative mood states among heterosexuals; thus, examining this association among gay/bisexual men is warranted. The current study examined the relationship between sports motivation and mood states, self-esteem, body esteem, life satisfaction, perceptions of masculinity/femininity, and parental encouragement for athletic endeavors among 195 gay/bisexual men. The results were mixed, but suggest that sports participation among gay/bisexual men may relate to a desire to express their masculinity and maintain a positive body image. Gay/bisexual men may be more likely to participate in sports if they receive positive reinforcement from others.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 449-468 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Journal of Homosexuality |
Volume | 54 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 10 2008 |
Keywords
- Bisexual
- Body image
- Gay
- Masculinity
- Men
- Motivation
- Sports