Masculine stress and sexual health: mediating roles of body dissatisfaction and sexual esteem in heterosexual men in the United Kingdom

Previous research has suggested that masculine gender role stress (MGRS) is linked with increased aggression, intimate partner violence, and health-risk behaviour. However, very little is known about the neurotic response that men with high MGRS exhibit in their sexual behaviour. This study aimed to explore the association between MGRS and sexual performance anxiety (SPA) as mediated by male body dissatisfaction (MBD) and sexual esteem (SE) in heterosexual-identified men in the United Kingdom.

A sample of 329 men (M_age = 42.57, SD = 17.44) completed an online survey assessing male-role beliefs, MGRS, MBD, SE, and SPA, as well as demographic characteristics.

A mediation analysis showed that MGRS was a significant predictor of SPA and SE but not MBD; SE was a partial mediator of this relationship. These results support the hypothesis that low SE may threaten men’s masculine identity, in which men who do not feel confident as a sexual partner may respond anxiously in their sexual behaviour, rather than aggressively, within an intimate relationship.

MGRS can lead to sexual health problems in some men. Psychological interventions should be considered to target masculinity stress, in order to address SPA.