Grossman Stephanie L, Annunziato Rachel A
Department of Psychology, Fordham University, 441 E. Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458, USA.
Sex Health. 2018 Jun;15(3):269-275. doi: 10.1071/SH17154.
Background Body hair removal is a behaviour that has become normative among women in Westernised cultures, and is presented by the media as the feminine ideal, despite being painful and a potential cause of infection. Of concern, removal may be part of a more global pattern of appearance dissatisfaction and risky sexual behaviour. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships among pubic hair removal, body image and sexual health indicators.
Women (n=264; Mage=33.82, s.d.=11.13, range=18-66) completed self-report questionnaires assessing these constructs, including an assessment of body hair removal practices.
Greater appearance concerns (as measured by thin-ideal internalisation, appearance investment and self-objectification) and sexual health indicators (i.e. less condom use self-efficacy when a partner disapproves of condom use) all predicted greater importance of reasons for pubic hair removal (R2=0.315, F(8184)=9.97, P<0.001), controlling for age groups. Additionally, women who removed a greater amount of hair reported more thin-ideal internalisation and appearance investment than those who removed less hair.
Women who express stronger reasoning for pubic hair removal, and remove a larger amount of it, may endorse problematic beliefs and behaviours particularly related to appearance concerns. It is important for practitioners to consider this practice as distinct from grooming and to be aware of its association with a broader array of risky beliefs and behaviours that can compromise women's well-being.
背景 身体脱毛是一种在西方文化中的女性中已变得规范的行为，并且在媒体上被呈现为女性理想状态，尽管这会带来疼痛且有感染的潜在风险。令人担忧的是，脱毛可能是更广泛的外表不满和危险性行为模式的一部分。本研究的目的是考察阴毛去除、身体意象和性健康指标之间的关系。
女性（n = 264；年龄均值 = 33.82，标准差 = 11.13，范围 = 18 - 66）完成了评估这些构念的自我报告问卷，包括对身体脱毛行为的评估。
更高的外表担忧（通过瘦身理想内化、外表投入和自我客体化来衡量）以及性健康指标（即当伴侣不赞成使用避孕套时使用避孕套的自我效能较低）都预测了阴毛去除原因的更重要性（R² = 0.315，F(8,184) = 9.97，P < 0.001），控制了年龄组。此外，去除较多毛发的女性比去除较少毛发的女性报告了更多的瘦身理想内化和外表投入。
对阴毛去除表达出更强理由且去除量更大的女性，可能认可有问题的信念和行为，特别是与外表担忧相关的。对于从业者而言，将这种行为视为不同于修饰并意识到其与一系列更广泛的可能损害女性幸福感的危险信念和行为之间的关联很重要。
