Moving beyond Body Dissatisfaction and Risky Sexual Behavior: A Critical Review of Positive Body Image and Sexual Health Scholarship

Research suggests significant correlations between body image and various sexual health and sexual behavior variables. However, the available scholarship in this area has several gaps. Currently, there are limited theories to understand associations between body image and sexual health and behavior. Existing studies primarily utilize two theories or the research is presented as atheoretical. Additionally, it is common for researchers to use invalidated measures for body image and sexual health and behavior, limiting our ability to compare results across studies. Further, researchers often rely on convenience samples of undergraduate, White, heterosexual women. The lack of diversity in the majority of research in this area makes it impossible to generalize the findings and to understand these associations among diverse individuals. As such, there is a need in the scholarship to increase utilization of theory, standardized and valid instruments, as well as diverse samples to better understand how positive body image and sexual health and sexual behavior are related and the impact this has on individuals and society.