Perhaps this young man also lacked a male mentor in his life to teach him that there really is a beautiful duality called masculine and feminine; lurking in our subconscious whether we pay it mind or not.

Just to state the obvious, men don't have to be completely masculine...and there are women attracted to men that project more of the feminine side, or a shy side. Sounds like he needs to decide if he wants to hunt in the land of abundance or strive for the exceptional. To do the former he will have to purge himself of that feminine quality which he got from his mother that causes him to worry so much of his appearance.

I notice a lot of young men these days, with a similar problem, tho they are trying to become hypermasculine and already looking for steroids and testosterone supplements in their 20s, when they are perfectly strong and masculine looking. No amount of validation from female attention will curb it. Just as harmful as anorexia but it can look "healthy" just because they are muscular.