# “An interpretative phenomenological analysis of male body image through the lived experiences of men in India”

## TL;DR

This study explores how Indian men experience and perceive their body image, highlighting the influence of societal and cultural factors.

## Contribution

The research provides novel insights into male body image in India, addressing a gap in Western-focused literature.

## Key findings

- Societal expectations and media significantly influence Indian men's body image.
- Participants experienced tension between traditional and modern masculine ideals.
- Body dissatisfaction and self-esteem issues were prevalent among participants.

## Abstract

This study aims to explore and analyze the lived experiences of cisgender men in India concerning male body image, employing an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. It seeks to understand the psychological and sociocultural influences shaping their perceptions of body image, addressing the gap in the literature, which has focused primarily on Western contexts.

A qualitative research design involving in-depth interviews with a purposively selected sample of cisgender men from diverse backgrounds in India was utilized. The data were analyzed via IPA to identify group and personal experiential statements related to body image, self-perception, and societal expectations.

The findings revealed significant group experiential statements, including the impact of societal expectations, media representations, and peer influences on the participants' body image. The study highlighted the tension between traditional masculine ideals and modern body expectations, leading to varying degrees of body dissatisfaction and self-esteem issues among the participants.

This research underscores the importance of contextualizing body image studies within specific cultural frameworks. This suggests the need for more inclusive and sociologically sensitive approaches in addressing stereotypes such as body image issues, particularly in non-Western contexts. The study contributes to the broader discourse on male body image by providing insights into the unique experiences of Indian men, with implications for future research and interventions.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40359-025-02963-y.