Age and Gender in Relation to Body Attitudes

Abstract

In order to examine whether the double standard of aging exists in self-perceptions of body attitudes, 144 men and women aged 20 to 80 years were tested. Variables that might moderate the relationship between body attitudes and aging, including self-esteem, health, masculinity, appearance orientation, and exercise participation were also examined. No age, gender, nor Age × Gender differences in body attitudes were found. Self-esteem, health, and masculinity were positively related to body attitudes, but these relationships did not vary according to age or gender. An Age × Gender × Exercise interaction indicated a positive relationship between age and body satisfaction among women exercisers but a negative relationship among women nonexercisers. Finally, appearance orientation was unrelated to body attitudes among all participants. The results of this study do not support the double standard of aging in self-perceptions but do suggest the similarity and importance of body attitudes across the adult life span.