AGE AND GENDER IN RELATION TO BODY ATTITUDES - IS THERE A DOUBLE-STANDARD OF AGING

In order to examine whether the double standard of aging exists in sel f-perceptions of body attitudes, 144 men and women aged 20 to 80 years were tested. Variables that might moderate the relationship between b ody attitudes and aging, including self-esteem, health, masculinity, a ppearance orientation, and exercise participation were also examined. No age, gender, nor Age x Gender differences in body attitudes were fo und. Self-esteem, health, and masculinity were positively related to b ody attitudes, but these relationships did not vary according to age o r gender. An Age x Gender x Exercise interaction indicated a positive relationship between age and body satisfaction among women exercisers but a negative relationship among women nonexercisers. Finally, appear ance orientation was unrelated to body attitudes among all participant s. The results of this study do not support the double standard of agi ng in sell-perceptions but do suggest the similarity and importance of body attitudes across the adult life span.