Are there any correlation studies between penis size and self-esteem in men?

1. Evidence that perception of size relates to self‑esteem and sexual esteem

Multiple empirical papers find that genital self‑image and men’s perceptions of their penis size are associated with lower self‑esteem, greater sexual anxiety, and reduced sexual satisfaction: a study of genital self‑perception reported moderate negative correlations between genital self‑image scores and anxiety/depression and positive correlations between stretched penis size and indices of sexual function (IIEF scores) ^[2]; other work links unfavorable genital perceptions to lower sexual esteem and greater body‑image self‑consciousness ^[4]. A systematic review and meta‑analysis framed penis‑size concerns as part of broader body‑image distress and concluded that men worried about penile size may experience anxiety and self‑esteem issues, noting that up to half of men in large surveys report dissatisfaction with size while most partners report being satisfied ^{[3] [5]}.

2. Many studies rely on self‑report and social desirability inflates apparent size — complicating correlations

Research shows self‑reported erect lengths are consistently larger than measurements obtained by clinicians, and self‑reports correlate positively with measures of social desirability, meaning men who want to present themselves favorably often overstate size; the Clemson study found a statistically significant positive correlation between social‑desirability scores and self‑reported erect length, and when less sexually experienced men were included the correlation weakened but remained significant ^{[6] [1] [7]}. This pattern implies that observed links between “penis size” and self‑esteem can be muddied by reporting bias: some men inflate size as part of impression management, while others underestimate or worry about size — both behaviors correlate with psychological traits ^{[1] [7]}.

3. Stronger effects appear in clinical or self‑selected populations (BDD, SPA, augmentation seekers)

The clearest, more consistent associations occur among men who present clinically: men with penile dysmorphic disorder or “small penis anxiety” show large perceived/ideal discrepancies that correlate with worse mental‑health scores, and patients seeking penile girth augmentation report greater penile dysmorphic symptoms and lower self‑esteem and body‑image–related quality of life than non‑clinical norms ^{[5] [8]}. Studies of men who actively pursue cosmetic phalloplasty repeatedly identify lower self‑esteem and higher genital self‑discrepancy, even as routine cosmetic outcomes and safety data remain limited ^{[8] [5]}.

4. Population surveys and subgroup findings: culture, sexuality and expectation matter

Large surveys and reviews highlight cultural and informational drivers: many men overestimate the “average” size and porn/ media norms skew expectations; subgroup studies (for example some work among gay men) report that a larger penis is often endorsed as an ideal and can be linked to self‑esteem in that sample, suggesting the relationship varies by cultural and sexual‑identity context ^{[3] [9]}. Meta‑analytic efforts that used clinician measurements still emphasize psychological consequences of size worry, but caution that pooling diverse designs (self‑report vs measured, general vs clinical samples) produces heterogeneity in effect sizes ^[3].

5. Limits, contested studies and where evidence is thin

Several investigators have tried and abandoned research due to recruitment and public‑backlash problems, highlighting sampling challenges and the sensitivity of the topic; one attempted study was suspended after media attention and skewed recruitment raised concerns about bias ^[10]. Overall, while evidence links genital self‑perception and self‑esteem in community and clinical samples, causal direction is unclear (does low self‑esteem drive size worries or vice versa?) and many studies rely on self‑report, convenience samples, or small clinical cohorts, limiting generalizability ^{[1] [3] [2]}.

6. Bottom line for readers following the data

There are indeed correlation studies showing associations between penis size (especially perceived size or genital self‑image) and self‑esteem, sexual esteem and mental health; the signal is strongest in men who are clinically distressed or seeking augmentation, but the field is hampered by self‑report bias, social‑desirability effects and sampling problems, so reported correlations should be interpreted cautiously and not taken as proof of a simple causal relationship ^{[6] [2] [8] [3]}.