Date of Conferral
12-17-2024
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Susan Marcus
Abstract
Prior research has examined the demographic, health, and activity factors influencing how young people, particularly young women, see themselves concerning body appreciation and acceptance. However, body appreciation and acceptance as perceived by older men and women have not been well-studied. The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which gender, age, quality of life assessment of physical and mental health, physical activity, and self-objectification influence body acceptance by others and body appreciation in adults ages 55-75. Self-objectification theory (SOT) was the framework used to examine the influence of two aspects of self-objectification (lack of autonomy and invisibility) on body acceptance by others (BAOS-2) and body appreciation (BAS-2). Survey research design was used to collect data from 199 adult men and women aged 55-76, and the two research questions were addressed using a stepwise multiple regression procedure. The results indicated that for the BAOS-2, mental health, sleep, physical health, and physical activity were significant predictors, explaining 31% of the variance. For the BAS-2, mental health and sleep explained 13% of the variance. In both questions, the lack of predictive value for the self-objectification measures (lack of autonomy and invisibility) suggested that older adults have moved past the pressures of socio-cultural-driven physical ideals. The implications for positive social change include educating older adults on how body self-acceptance can be cultivated by activities that focus on physical well-being, good sleep habits, and positive mental health practices.
Recommended Citation
Russell, Heather, "Influence of Demographics, Health, and Self-Objectification on Body Acceptance and Body Appreciation in Older Adults" (2024). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 16755.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/16755
