Obstacles to forming a positive body image and strategies for overcoming them: A qualitative study of nonbinary individuals’ experiences

Abstract

Although limited research has explored body image trajectories (i.e., how body image evolves across time) among gender-diverse populations, previous studies suggest that nonbinary individuals have distinctive experiences with forming and maintaining positive body image. Moreover, nonbinary individuals, like members of other stigmatized groups, experience unique stressors tied to their marginalized gender identity, though no prior studies have investigated the role of minority stress in positive body image trajectories. The present study employs the gender minority stress framework to explore the obstacles nonbinary individuals face in forming positive body image and the coping strategies foundational to their resilience. We conducted a reflexive thematic analysis of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 15 nonbinary individuals who scored high on a validated measure of positive body image (the Body Appreciation Scale-2). The analysis revealed eight key obstacles participants encountered as they sought to form a positive body image, such as confining and dangerous anti-LGBTQ+ narratives, gender dysphoria, and familial expectation and religious beliefs. Participants leveraged six coping strategies, such as seeking therapy, resisting comparisons, and nurturing inner kindness and self-consideration to overcome the obstacles they faced. Further, results illustrate how intersectionality with nonbinary identities (e.g., having health concerns or disabilities) creates distinct barriers to positive body image, thereby necessitating a unique, intertwining array of coping strategies. Together, these findings offer a valuable foundation to direct the creation of programs and interventions seeking to build positive body image in nonbinary populations and emphasize the need for diverse samples in positive body image research.