Body Dissatisfaction in Women Across the Lifespan: Results of the UNC‐SELF and Gender and Body Image (GABI) Studies

Abstract

To explore age differences in current and preferred silhouette and body dissatisfaction (current -preferred silhouette discrepancy) in women aged 25-89 years using figural stimuli (range: 1-very small to 9-very large). Data were abstracted from two online convenience samples (N = 5,868). t-tests with permutation-adjusted p-values examined linear associations between mean silhouette scores (current, preferred, discrepancy score) and age with/without stratification by body mass index (BMI). Modal current silhouette was 5; modal preferred silhouette was 4; mean discrepancy score was 1.8. There was no significant association between current silhouette and age, but a positive linear association between preferred silhouette and age remained after stratification by BMI. A significant inverse linear association of silhouette discrepancy score and age was found only prior to stratification by BMI. Body dissatisfaction exists in women across the adult life span and is influenced by BMI.

Body image in a representative sample of overweight, obese and normal weight active older women living in the community: associations with body composition, physical fitness and function

“…A curvilinear association was identified in which women and men with high and low BMI categories were more dissatisfied with their appearance. 7 Our findings showing greater dissatisfaction in overweight and obese community dwelling older women extend previous findings 6,34 in older North American women to older South American Latina women who may have a different ideal body image in comparison to women from other cultures. Women of European origins tend to internalize the thinness ideal, and this is associated with body dissatisfaction.…”

Body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in trans people: A systematic review of the literature

“…However, it must be noted that the participants in this study were adolescents, a demographic for whom body dissatisfaction is more prevalent in comparison to other age groups (e.g., Tiggemann, 2004) although body dissatisfaction exists in women of all ages (Runfola et al, 2013). De Vries et al (2014) followed up this study with 55 trans individuals (from the original dataset) and with an additional time point, one year after SRS (T2).…”

Relationship between body image and somatotype profile in young women

“…Apesar do caráter multidimensional da imagem corporal, a insatisfação com o corpo tem sido a característica de maior enfoque entre pesquisadores da área (Laus, Miranda, Almeida, Costa, & Ferreira, 2012, Levine & Murnen, 2009, Runfola et al, 2013, Slevec & Tiggemann, 2011, Swami et al, 2010, o que incorre, muitas vezes, em deixar negligenciadas as demais dimensões (Thompson & Van Den Berg, 2002.…”