Men’s Baldness Stigma and Body Dissatisfaction

February 2021 in “ International journal of men's social and community health ”

Glen Jankowski, Michael Sherwin, Nova Deighton-Smith

baldness body dissatisfaction hair loss appearance pressures

Studysummary This study found that participants perceived bald men more negatively based on facial expressions and reported varied body dissatisfaction, which was weakly linked to wellbeing and muscularity behaviors.

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The study "Men’s Baldness Stigma and Body Dissatisfaction" by Michael Sherwin and Nova Deighton-Smith from Leeds Beckett University involved 86 male participants aged 18–58 years. The research aimed to understand the perception of facial expressions of bald and non-bald men and the types of body dissatisfaction men experience, including dissatisfaction with baldness. The results indicated that participants interpreted the facial expressions of bald men slightly more negatively than those of non-bald men. Most participants reported some form of body dissatisfaction, which was weakly correlated with wellbeing and muscularity enhancing behaviours. The study concluded that men's body dissatisfaction is a complex issue, with a focus on the resilience men show towards appearance pressures, including hair loss.

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Research cited in this study

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research Bald and Bad?

29 citations , September 2019 in “Experimental Psychology (formerly Zeitschrift für Experimentelle Psychologie)”

This study found that negative social attractiveness ratings for bald men by same-aged women occurred only when individuating information about the target was absent, while the physical attractiveness stereotype remained active at an implicit level.

research Evidence-Based Guideline for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women and Men

198 citations , October 2011 in “Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft”

This article discusses the development of an evidence-based guideline for treating androgenetic alopecia and reports no new research results.

research Androgenetic Alopecia: Stress of Discovery

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research The Effects of Hair Loss in European Men: A Survey in Four Countries

18 citations , March 2000 in “PubMed”

This study found that male pattern hair loss significantly negatively impacts men aged 18 to 40 in France, Italy, Germany, and the UK, with perceived noticeability contributing to these effects.