Primary and Secondary Control Over Age‐Related Changes in Physical Appearance

Abstract

Beliefs about appearance-related changes due to aging were used to test the effects of perceived control and secondary control (acceptance) in a sample of 412 young, early-middle-age, and late-middle-age college-educated adults. Mean difference in aging-related appearance control and hypotheses regarding the adaptiveness of primary and secondary control were examined. Primary control over aging-related appearance was lower in older adults and secondary control was higher. In addition, the results indicated support for the Primacy/Back-Up Model that primary perceived control is important at all levels of actual control. Those with stronger beliefs in their primary control were less distressed. Secondary control served a back-up function in that it was related to less distress only for those who had medium or lower beliefs in primary control. The implications of these findings, that primary control may be advantageous even in low-control circumstances, are discussed.

Appearance Dissatisfaction, Body Appreciation, and Sexual Health in Women Across Adulthood

“…Indeed, the body naturally undergoes a number of changes as women age (e.g., increased hip-to-waist ratio, decrease inskinelasticity).Inthatcontext,high(orunchanged)levelsofbody appreciation could beconsidered indicative of effective coping with these changes. This is consistent with other studies on body image and aging, indicating that acceptance, a hallmark of body appreciation, is among the most used mechanisms for coping with agerelated changes to the body (e.g., Thompson et al, 1998;Tiggemann, 2004;Webster & Tiggemann, 2003). Therefore, we suggest that although young and older women may experience comparable levels of body appreciation, its contribution to women's psychological well-being may vary with age.…”

Factors associated with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in women in midlife

“…44,45 Previous literature 19,20 has suggested that importance of appearance many diminish with age, but in the current study of women aged 35-65 years, there was no relationship between age and appearance importance. Regardless of age, higher importance placed on appearance was related to higher levels of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating.…”

“…A measure drawing on other attributes, such as movement, ability to engage in life, physical pleasure, and body-related accomplishments, as has been suggested in qualitative studies, 22,23 may yield different results. Alternatively, the interpretation of the body function items may account for Consistent with studies by Webster and Tiggemann, 9 and Thompson et al, 20 cognitive reappraisal, that is, altering expectations, or accepting changes to physical appearance that occur with age, was associated with lower levels of body image and eating concerns. Women who engage in cognitive reappraisal may do so because they do not place a great deal of importance on their appearance.…”

“…It has been assumed that factors related to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in midlife are the same as for young women but this may not be the case as the meaning and perception of the body may change with age. 18 For example, a decrease in importance of appearance with age has been found in some studies, 19,20 although not in others. [8][9][10] Furthermore, in a study of body satisfaction in midlife and older adults, Reboussin et al 21 interpret their findings to indicate that body function may be valued more highly than appearance in midlife.…”

“…22,23 Supporting this proposition is research showing lower levels of body dissatisfaction associated with measures of cognitive or secondary control. 9,20 This form of control has been defined as accepting circumstances as they are and adjusting the self to fit in with the environment. 31 For the purposes of this research, selfadjustment refers to the cognitive process of changing expectations, reappraising, or accepting one's appearance.…”