The effects of body representation and public comment in provocative GBTQ+ music videos on GBTQ+ individuals’ self-esteem, body satisfaction, and sexual identity acceptance

Building upon research that demonstrates GBTQ+ men prioritize their physical appearance, particularly concerning body fat, more than their heterosexual counterparts, this study uses social comparison, social identity, and social judgment theories to examine the effects of sexual music videos featuring GBTQ+ artists on this population. Two studies analyzed how provocative music videos and different types of public commentary affect GBTQ+ individuals' self-esteem, body satisfaction, and sexual identity acceptance. Study One (N = 398) used a 2 (body type of lead artist) x 3 (perceived comment sentiment) x 3 (body discrepancy) design. Study Two (N = 299) used a 2 (body type of lead artist) x 3 (perceived comment sentiment) design. Results showed that interpreting music videos alone intensified the impact on self-esteem, body satisfaction, and sexual identity acceptance, highlighting implications for when the social comparison process becomes salient.