Body dissatisfaction among men and women in U.S. culture is widespread. It has been well documented that body dissatisfaction in women generally centers on issues of thinness; however, both men and women also experience dissatisfaction in regard to muscularity. The desire for muscularity varies from culture to culture, suggesting that culture plays a significant role in the desire for muscularity.In this chapter, we explore the role of culture in the pursuit of muscularity. Different theories of muscularity, including biological and cultural theories, are discussed. We review multiple lines of evidence regarding the drive for muscularity, whether the drive for muscularity appears to be increasing, and how the impact of the emphasis varies among different groups within U.S. culture. We then explore the presence of the drive for muscularity in some cultures and its relative absence in others. We also explore how the muscular ideal, much like the thin ideal for women, may have started to spread from Western cultures to more traditional cultures. Finally, we suggest ways to examine the area of culture and muscularity in future research.

Dissatisfaction with one's body image is widespread and can have serious health consequences; however, research about its prevalence and correlates in older women is limited. We analyzed data from 75,256 women participating in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, a longitudinal study of postmenopausal women's health. Measures used in the study were collected at baseline and/or the third year of follow-up between 1993 and 2002. The majority of participants (83%) in this study were dissatisfied with their bodies because they perceived themselves as heavier than their ideal. Overall, the multiple and significant correlates of body image dissatisfaction explained 36.2% of the variance in the body image dissatisfaction score, with body mass index (BMI) and change in BMI being the two most important contributors to explaining the variance. The results of this study suggest future research should focus on the utility of interventions to reduce dissatisfaction with body image in postmenopausal women that target either maintenance of a lower BMI through diet and exercise, and/or body acceptance. Further, future research should aim to identify factors in addition to body size that drive body image dissatisfaction.

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Inhibited sexual desire (ISD), characterized by low sexual interest and sexual avoidance, is a common problem for heterosexual couples presenting to sex therapy. ISD is multicausal and multidimensional and manifests differently for males and females. Precipitating factors include traumatic sexual experiences, negative self-image, sexual guilt or shame, deviant or variant sexual behavior, relationship difficulties, and a chronic sexual dysfunction. Regardless of whether the male or female experiences ISD, the effect on the couple is that the cycle of positive anticipation, pleasure-oriented intercourse, and a regular rhythm of sexual contact is replaced by anticipatory anxiety, unsuccessful intercourse, self-consciousness, and avoidance. This article outlines a therapeutic plan for establishing resilient sexual desire by emphasizing intimacy, pleasure, satisfaction, and realistic sexual expectations.

Paradoxically, although second marriages have a significantly higher divorce rate than first marriages, the couples in functional and stable second marriages take greater pride and report higher satisfaction in their marriage than couples in their first marriage. This article presents an assessment/treatment program for second marriages to help couples “beat the odds” and establish a satisfying, stable marital bond of respect, trust, and intimacy. A case example presents a positive model of learning from the past and taking pride and satisfaction in the second marriage and stepfamily.