Małgorzata Lipowska1, Mariusz Lipowski2, Henryk Olszewski3, Dorota Dykalska-Bieck3. 1. Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland. Electronic address: malgorzata.lipowska@ug.edu.pl. 2. Department of Health Psychology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, Poland. 3. Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To study the attitudes of seniors to their own bodies, specifically subjective body attractiveness and activities aimed at the improvement of body appearance and condition. METHODS: The study looked at 72 women and 81 men between 60 and 80 years of age. The participants were examined with the Body/Self Relationship Test, Body Esteem Scale and Healthy Behavior Inventory. Anthropometric measures, such as body mass index (BMI) and the index of central obesity (ICO), were also used. RESULTS: Older women and men did not differ in terms of subjective attitudes to their bodies. Most seniors were overweight; this problem was more often disclosed and assessed negatively by women, but was not correlated with a higher level of health-seeking behaviors. Despite being clearly overweight, no significant associations were found between objective anthropometric parameters in men, their body attitudes and health-seeking behaviors. DISCUSSION: The study confirmed that older women consider their body as an object that is assessed for its appearance, whereas men see it as a process, focusing on its efficient functioning.
OBJECTIVES: To study the attitudes of seniors to their own bodies, specifically subjective body attractiveness and activities aimed at the improvement of body appearance and condition. METHODS: The study looked at 72 women and 81 men between 60 and 80 years of age. The participants were examined with the Body/Self Relationship Test, Body Esteem Scale and Healthy Behavior Inventory. Anthropometric measures, such as body mass index (BMI) and the index of central obesity (ICO), were also used. RESULTS: Older women and men did not differ in terms of subjective attitudes to their bodies. Most seniors were overweight; this problem was more often disclosed and assessed negatively by women, but was not correlated with a higher level of health-seeking behaviors. Despite being clearly overweight, no significant associations were found between objective anthropometric parameters in men, their body attitudes and health-seeking behaviors. DISCUSSION: The study confirmed that older women consider their body as an object that is assessed for its appearance, whereas men see it as a process, focusing on its efficient functioning.
Authors: Ingela Lundin Kvalem; Cynthia A Graham; Gert Martin Hald; Ana Alexandra Carvalheira; Erick Janssen; Aleksandar Štulhofer Journal: Eur J Ageing Date: 2019-11-06
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