The Longitudinal Associations of Body Dissatisfaction with Health and Wellness Behaviors in Midlife and Older Women

Lisa Smith Kilpela (), Savannah C. Hooper, Casey L. Straud, Victoria B. Marshall, Christina L. Verzijl, Tiffany M. Stewart, Taylur T. Loera and Carolyn Black Becker
Additional contact information
Lisa Smith Kilpela: Department of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
Savannah C. Hooper: ReACH Center, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
Casey L. Straud: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
Victoria B. Marshall: ReACH Center, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
Christina L. Verzijl: Department of Adolescent Medicine, Dell Children’s Medical Group, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
Tiffany M. Stewart: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
Taylur T. Loera: ReACH Center, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
Carolyn Black Becker: Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 24, 1-12

Abstract: Emerging research suggests that body dissatisfaction (BD) is prevalent among midlife and older women (i.e., upwards of 70%). Cross-sectionally, BD is associated with myriad poor health and wellness outcomes (e.g., depression, disordered eating, bad nutrition) in midlife/older women. However, relatively few studies have examined the longitudinal relations between BD and health outcomes in this population. This preliminary study investigated the longitudinal associations of BD with wellbeing and health-related quality of life (QOL) among midlife/older adult women over one year. Participants ( n = 86, women aged 40–72 years, M = 51.49, SD = 7.34, 86% white) completed self-report measures of BD, psychosocial impairment, health behaviors, and QOL at baseline (T1) and 12-month follow-up (T2). A series of multiple linear regression models included T1 BD as the predictor variable of health outcomes at T2, covarying for T1 BMI and age in all models. BD was associated with greater negative emotions and psychosocial impairment, less physical activity enjoyment, and poorer physical, psychological, and social QOL one year later. Findings suggest that BD is associated with negative consequences for women across the lifespan (ƒ 2 ranges = 0.06–0.60). Future research investigating BD as a unique, modifiable risk factor for health outcomes among diverse samples of midlife/older women is warranted. Targeting BD in interventions may improve health indices beyond eating disorders for this population.

Keywords: body dissatisfaction; mental health; midlife; older women; wellness; quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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