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

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  • Lisa Smith Kilpela

    (Department of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
    ReACH Center, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
    Barshop Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
    Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital, South Texas VA Health System, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA)

  • Savannah C. Hooper

    (ReACH Center, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
    Barshop Institute, 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
    Barshop Institute, 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
    Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78224, USA)

  • Carolyn Black Becker

    (Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Smith Kilpela & Savannah C. Hooper & Casey L. Straud & Victoria B. Marshall & Christina L. Verzijl & Tiffany M. Stewart & Taylur T. Loera & Carolyn Black Becker, 2023. "The Longitudinal Associations of Body Dissatisfaction with Health and Wellness Behaviors in Midlife and Older Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(24), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:24:p:7143-:d:1294383
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maria Socorro Medeiros de Morais & Rafaela Andrade do Nascimento & Mariana Carmem Apolinário Vieira & Mayle Andrade Moreira & Saionara Maria Aires da Câmara & Álvaro Campos Cavalcanti Maciel & Maria d, 2017. "Does body image perception relate to quality of life in middle-aged women?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(9), pages 1-12, September.
    2. Yan Wang & Sarah D Lynne & Dawn Witherspoon & Maureen M Black, 2020. "Longitudinal bidirectional relations between body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms among Black adolescents: A cross-lagged panel analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, January.
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