3 - (SYM 64) Positive Body Image Development Among Transgender and Nonbinary Online Sexual Content Creators

Background: Amidst systems of identity-based oppression and rigid sociocultural body ideals, transgender and nonbinary young adults face significant challenges to developing positive body image. Online sexual content creation, in which creators share sexual photos or videos of themselves in online fora (e.g., Twitter, OnlyFans), presents an underexplored context to investigate the development of positive body image in response to these systems. Therefore, this study sought to qualitatively explore how transgender and nonbinary online sexual content creators may cultivate positive body image.

Methods: 15 transgender and/or nonbinary young adult sexual content creators (M_age = 25.1; [60% White; 53.3% bisexual/pansexual]) in the U.S. completed a demographic survey and semi-structured interview focused on content creation experiences in relation to their social identities and body image. Interviews were analyzed using a template analysis approach.

Results: Interviews revealed several body image themes: 1) systems of privilege and marginalization, 2) needs and motivations, 3) decision-making and strategies, 4) social experiences, and 5) positive and negative body image experiences. Participants highlighted motivations to engage in content creation to improve body image, feel desirable, explore gender and bodily expression, and express themselves authentically. Participants identified a variety of decisions to pursue these objectives while navigating systems of oppression, such as creating gender-affirming content, emphasizing specific body parts, and experimenting with different body presentations. Though participants reported experiences of fetishization and objectification, they also reported affirmation from others for their gender expression and validation of attractiveness. Overall, participants emphasized feelings of body satisfaction, body appreciation, bodily autonomy, and gender euphoria as a result of their strategies and social experiences with content creation. While some participants perceived temporary increases in positive body image, others reported more sustained improvements that contributed to overall well-being.

Conclusions: Transgender and nonbinary young adults demonstrate unique resilience, strength, and creativity in finding ways to strengthen well-being in light of systemic barriers. This study highlights strategies and social experiences that foster positive body image in the context of content creation, with implications for clinical care.