Ba. Reboussin et al., Correlates of satisfaction with body function and body appearance in middle- and older aged adults: The Activity Counseling Trial (ACT), PSYCHOL HEA, 15(2), 2000, pp. 239-254
This study examined the dimensional structure and correlates of body satisf
action among middle-aged and older adult men (n = 471) and women (n = 383)
who were participants in the Activity Counseling Trial. Correlates were gro
uped as (1) fitness parameters, (2) demographic characteristics, and (3) co
mponents of subjective well-being. Factor analyses demonstrated that body f
unction and body appearance were independent components of satisfaction in
this population. Body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness were direct
ly related to satisfaction with body appearance; however, satisfaction with
body function was most strongly related in expected directions to measures
of subjective well-being. Age was positively related to both measures of b
ody satisfaction, whereas data on race revealed that blacks were more satis
fied with their body appearance and function than whites. The observed rela
tionships for body satisfaction suggest that older adults may value body fu
nction more than body appearance. Furthermore, the associations of race and
age with body satisfaction have important implications for intervention re
search.