When masculinity polices the body: body image as a mediator of dance self-efficacy among university students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55040/qh8jbq07Keywords:
toxic masculinity, body image, dance, self-efficacy, expressive movement, sports psychologyAbstract
Dance participation in higher education supports physical, psychological, and social development; however, gendered norms may constrain male students’ engagement and confidence in expressive movement contexts. Rigid masculine expectations may shape how male bodies are perceived and performed, potentially influencing both body-related perceptions and dance self-efficacy. This study examined whether body image mediates the relationship between toxic masculinity and dance self-efficacy among Filipino male university students. A quantitative cross-sectional mediation design was employed with 104 male undergraduate students enrolled in PATHFIT dance-related courses. Data were collected using the Toxic Masculinity Scale (TMS), Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), and Dance Self-Efficacy Scale, and analyzed using PROCESS Model 4 with bootstrapping and the Sobel test. Results showed that toxic masculinity significantly and negatively predicted dance self-efficacy (B = −0.21, SE = 0.09, p = .025), while body image significantly and positively predicted dance self-efficacy (B = 0.47, SE = 0.07, p < .001). However, toxic masculinity did not significantly predict body image (B = −0.12, p = .361), and the indirect effect was not significant (B = −0.06, 95% CI [−0.21, 0.11]; z = −0.91, p = .36). These findings indicate that toxic masculinity directly undermines dance confidence, whereas body image independently enhances it, highlighting the need for gender-inclusive and body-positive pedagogies in physical education.
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