By Macaela Mackenzie
He’s not just thinking: BOOBS!
You might think the only thing going through a guy’s head while you’re getting busy with him is “BOOBS!” but a new study suggests that he could actually be strategising ways to cover up his love handles.
What he’s worrying about
For the study, published in the journal Psychology of Men and Masculinity, researchers analysed five studies of more than 100 000 gay and straight men between the ages of 35 and 50 to find out where their insecurities lie and how that impacts their sex lives.
READ MORE: This Is Exactly What Men Notice… When You’re Naked
It turns out a good deal of men have concerns about their bods. Forty percent of the guys surveyed said they didn’t like some aspect of their physical appearance, whether it was weight, muscle definition or the total package. And over 60 percent of straight men reported feeling judged based on their physical appearance. Sounds familiar…
And get this…
Twenty percent of healthy weight guys reported hiding an aspect of their body during sex – usually their stomach. That being said, it didn’t stop many of them from actually having sex; only five percent of dudes said they avoided doing the deed because of their body image (though that’s definitely five percent too many, guys).
READ MORE: This Is Exactly What Men Think… During Sex
Plus, while bellies may be bumming men out, the study suggests they’re also stressing about their chests, butts, thighs and junk – who knew? (Actually, the junk part we kind of knew already.)
Some other interesting insights into male insecurities:
– Over half of guys are comparing their appearance to other dudes at social events.
– 10 percent of straight men feel pressure from their partner to drop a few kilograms.
– 30 percent of straight guys feel pressure from the media to look a certain way.
– 23 percent of straight men went as far as to report interest in cosmetic surgery.
At the end of the day, we hate to see anyone with body confidence issues, but next time you’re stressing when you disrobe, remember you’re not alone.
Here are 5 surprising things guys worry about during sex. Plus: 3 things your guy wants you to do in bed… but will never ask for.
