Predictors of body satisfaction: differences between older men and women's perceptions of their body functioning and appearance.
OBJECTIVE
This article examines the predictors of body satisfaction among older men and women.


METHODS
A self-reported questionnaire on body satisfaction (focused on body appearance and functioning), health, physical activity, and sociodemographic characteristics was completed by 384 older adults twice, at a year's interval. Women (n = 243) were on average 70.3 ± 7.9 years old, and men 70.9 ± 7.5 years old.


RESULTS
Body mass index was found to be the strongest predictor of satisfaction with body appearance for both genders, along with body functioning in the case of men. Regarding satisfaction with body functioning, functional limitations were women's most important predictor of satisfaction, whereas for men body appearance was more important.


CONCLUSIONS
Men seemed to link satisfaction with body appearance more closely to body functioning than did women. Gender differences suggest that interventions to improve body satisfaction must be gender specific, particularly those relating to body functioning.
CNRS UMR 6578 Laboratoire d'Anthropologie BioCulturelle, Marseille, France. philipebarreto81@yahoo.com.br
Philipe
P
de Souto Barreto
Anne-Marie
AM
Ferrandez
Anne-Marie
AM
Guihard-Costa
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006240:Happiness; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010465:Perception; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires