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Journal of Aging and Health
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The Adult Body: How Age, Gender, and Body Mass Index Are Related to Body Image

Monica Ålgars, M.Psych

Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland, malgars{at}abo.fi

Pekka Santtila, PhD

Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland

Markus Varjonen, M.Psych

Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland

Katarina Witting, PhD

Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland

Ada Johansson, M.Psych

Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland

Patrick Jern, M.Psych

Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland

N. Kenneth Sandnabba, PhD

Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland

Objectives: Body image and perceived attractiveness were examined, and the impact of age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) was analyzed and discussed from an evolutionary and a sociocultural perspective. Method: The population-based sample consisted of 11,468 Finnish men and women aged 18 to 49 years. Results: Both age-related decrease and increase in body satisfaction was detected as well as interactions between age and gender. Some effects were nonlinear. Women were generally less satisfied with their bodies than men. BMI had a stronger influence on women’s body image than men’s. Discussion: It was proposed that it is insufficient to merely study how age affects general body image because adults might become more satisfied with some aspects of their bodies as a function of age and less satisfied with other aspects. Body satisfaction might also fluctuate during different phases of the adult life, and the patterns possibly differ between men and women.

Key Words: attractiveness • body dissatisfaction • body image • body mass index (BMI) • Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory • evolutionary theory

Journal of Aging and Health, Vol. 21, No. 8, 1112-1132 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0898264309348023
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