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Article
Women'S Perceived Body Image: Relations With Personal Happiness
Journal of Women and Aging
  • Rachel Stokes, University of Central Florida
  • Christina Frederick-Recascino, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Keywords
  • Aging,
  • Body image,
  • Happiness,
  • Subjective well-being
Abstract

The present study examined the relationships between body image and happiness in adult women. One hundred and forty-four women, with an average age of 40 years, were surveyed. Within the sample, three age groups were established: college-aged women, middle-aged women, and older women. Each participant completed the Body Esteem Scale (Franzoi & Shields, 1984), the Eating Attitudes Test (Garner & Garfinkel, 1979), and the Life Satisfaction Index A (Neugarten, Havighurst, & Tobin, 1961). Results indicated that happiness significantly and positively correlated with the three components of body esteem: sexual attractiveness, weight concern, and physical condition. There were no significant differences among the types of body satisfaction expressed by women of different ages. The results are discussed in terms of the importance of recognizing body image as a major contributor to overall life happiness in women. © 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Publication Date
11-19-2003
Number of Pages
17-29
Document Type
Article
Personal Identifier
scopus
DOI Link
https://doi.org/10.1300/J074v15n01_03
Socpus ID
0037505842 (Scopus)
Source API URL
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/0037505842
Citation Information
Rachel Stokes and Christina Frederick-Recascino. "Women'S Perceived Body Image: Relations With Personal Happiness" Journal of Women and Aging Vol. 15 Iss. 1 (2003)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/christina_m_frederick/6/