Introduction
Concerns surrounding body image are frequently associated with adolescents and young adults; however, body image issues are not exclusive to youth populations. Even though how we associate with our bodies shifts as we get older, body image effects may persist. There is literature suggesting that in women over the age of 50, body image plays a critical role in overall body satisfaction. For instance, Hofmeier et al. (2017) mention how prior research within this population of women revealed that a significant portion of these women exhibited "body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and extreme weight control methods" (p. 2). Such findings suggest the need for further investigation into body image influence(s) within this unique population; thus, this literature review will discuss three primary areas of focus on body image in middle-aged women – self-esteem, physical health, and overall quality of life.
Problem Statement
Perceptions of body image are among the most prominent issues facing female populations today in a society that perpetually pushes out images of the ideal body type of thinness. It can be challenging not to become absorbed in the trend of trying to measure up to these idyllic images. Comparing oneself to these unrealistic standards engenders particular implications concerning self-esteem, physical health, and overall quality of life.
To date, studies surrounding the topic of body image and its impacts focus primarily on adolescent and young adult female populations. Information concerning the influence of body image on self-esteem, physical health, and quality of life in middle-aged women is limited. Middle-age is a challenging juncture wherein many women do not cope well with the multitude of changes that accompany this stage of life (Maria Socorro Medeiros et al., 2017). Not only can these vicissitudes result in the recognized health hazards of weight gain due to hormonal imbalances and a diminishment in routine physical activity, but they can impact body image so adversely that health risks of low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and general quality of life become prevailing (Adrianna Coutino de & Baptista, 2011). In order to understand the effects of body image on self-esteem, physical health, and general quality of life in middle-aged women, it is imperative that a quantitative study utilizing surveys be conducted to determine the degree to which body image influences these factors.
Body Image and Self-Esteem
Body image can be loosely defined as an individual's subjective perception of their own body and attractiveness. This perception can be positive or negative and has the power to impact individuals mentally, emotionally, and physically. Self-esteem can be defined as an individual's sense of self-worth or value. As aforementioned, body image and self-esteem concerns are typically viewed as a young women's issue and have been well documented in past years. Consequently, there is a lack of substantial research documenting the impacts of body image on self-esteem in women in midlife.
Many women feel pressured to sustain the perpetuated standards of ideal beauty exemplified in the media in today's society. These unrealistic standards promote maintaining a thin and youthful physical appearance (Olchowska-Kotala, 2017). However, midlife presents some unique challenges for women, making it difficult to uphold the thin and youthful paradigms of beauty. This poses some complex implications in middle-aged women who have spent most of their younger years distinguishing their worth in their appearance. Women transitioning into midlife experience a multitude of changes, including hormonal fluctuations, weight gain, loose and wrinkling skin, and emotional shifts that can lead to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem (Goswami, 2013). In one study examining the link between body image and depressive symptoms in middle-aged Caucasian and African-American women, researchers discovered that middle-aged women, regardless of race, with poor body image harnessed elevated levels of low self-esteem and were more prone to have clinically expressive degrees of depressive symptoms (Jackson et al., 2014). Another study investigating the association between body image and self-esteem in midlife through interviews, which focused on six Caucasian women between the ages of 45 to 60 in the Chicagoland area, discovered an interesting aspect of perceptions of body image its influence on self-esteem. The findings disclosed that the importance of body image is what ultimately influences women's self-esteem; for instance, women who historically place high levels of value and worth on body image will potentially be more perturbed by the physical changes in their bodies as they transition into midlife than those women who do not (Saab, 2016); these findings were further reinforced in a later study that looked at the association between body esteem and global self-esteem in middle-aged women wherein the researchers conclusions showed that having an optimistic outlook may increase body esteem and self-esteem (Olchowska-Kotala, 2017) Nevertheless, the overall findings from each of the studies as mentioned above were reasonably consistent with existing literature concerning body image in midlife in that most women presented with negative feelings towards their altering bodies.
In addition to the abovementioned research, literature also explores how an underrepresentation of aging women's bodies in the media can impact self-esteem in this target population. For instance, Sabik (2017) discusses how aging female bodies are widely underrepresented in popular media and are often cast in a negative, desexualized, and unflattering light. Thus, older women may be more at risk for higher degrees of adverse body image and low self-esteem as their bodies change during the midlife transitional period.
Body Image and Physical Health
Another focus concerning body image is its influence on physical health in midlife. Specifically, there is a dearth in the literature surrounding body image and its impact on routine physical activity (PA) in middle-aged women. In general, physical activity is an essential factor in overall healthy development. Further, PA is an integral part of maintaining an overall positive quality of life. Physical inactivity and obesity are among the most significant public health concerns currently, especially in Western civilization, and research shows that women entering midlife face challenges with weight gain due to, in large part, a decline in muscle strength and mass (Hallion, Taylor, Roberts, & Ashe, 2019). PA has been found to support healthy aging and lower the risks of developing a host of health conditions. It has also been associated with improved mental health (Hallion, Taylor, Roberts, & Ashe, 2019). Women, in particular, are at risk for developing chronic health conditions compared to men, and the fact that women are likely to live longer than their male counterparts increases the chances of unremitting health issues. Further, how the body functions have implications surrounding body image and physical health. Sabik (2017) mentions how functional restrictions and other health issues can potentially influence middle-aged women's body perceptions and self-concept.
There is literature that examines how habitual physical activity can improve individuals' body image, but it is still primarily uncertain how and to what extent body image influences people to partake in regular physical activity. It may be that body image is not as significant a motivating factor as some perceive, and other factors may hold more credence when partaking in PA and other healthy lifestyle practices. For instance, in a study examining the possible link between self-compassion and exercise in midlife, researchers found that self-compassion had little to do with physical activity, and self-regulation had everything to do with engaging in health-promoting behaviors (Hallion, Taylor, Roberts, & Ashe, 2019). In another study that looked at the perceptions of physical self-esteem in older adults, the authors found that our perceptions of physical health ultimately impact our physical self-worth and our encounter with physical activity (Moore, Beets, Mitchell, & Bartholomew, 2012). The study further supports the notion that our perceptions of ourselves and the attractiveness of our bodies play a vital role in our motivation to partake in exercise and other healthy lifestyle habits; however, it examines this connection through a physical self-esteem lens rather than body image itself. Finally, in another study investigating the relationship between body image and exercise behaviors wherein authors utilized open-ended questions to gather raw data, it was found that body image played a significant role in the number of exercise participants engaged in.
Additionally, it was discovered that negative body image was a primary motivating factor for exercise participation. Moreover, an exciting theme that presented itself within this body of research was how body image also influenced exercise location. The findings revealed that about 25% of participants felt their body image impacted where they carried out their exercise routines, with the majority preferring private and semi-private locations (Brudzynski & Ebben, 2010). Such findings could be an area of focus for future research.
Body Image and Quality of Life
A final area of focus regarding body image is its impact on the overall quality of life in middle-aged women. As previously discussed, midlife can be an extremely taxing and challenging period for women. It is during this time that women begin experiencing the effects of menopause. These physiological shifts are accompanied by a wide variety of undesirable physical changes. Research indicates that in addition to the hormonal factors, an upsurge in the intake of unhealthy cuisine and a decrease in or lack of exercise is closely associated with the typical weight gain during this phase of life (Maria Socorro Medeiros et al., 2017). When combined, these factors have the vast potential to cause significant body dissatisfaction, which can critically affect overall health and quality of life. For example, negative body image perceptions can lead to conditions of "depression, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and self-confidence" (Maria Socorro Medeiros et al., 2017, p. 2). In another study precisely measuring the impacts of body image on quality of life, body image was discovered to be strongly connected with the quality of life in general, but also in many sub-domains (e.g., exercise engagement, economic status, health perception, etc.) (Navir et al., 2016). Further, in a study examining body dissatisfaction and subjective quality of life in a large general population of Australian women aged 18 to 42 years old, researchers revealed that the majority of research subjects related some degree of discontent with their weight and/or body shape, and more than one-third of subjects reported mild to significant body dissatisfaction; those participants who reported higher levels of body dissatisfaction were associated with a marked diminishment in overall quality of life, but also in aspects relating to psycho-social functioning mental health, and even some physical health functioning (Mond et al., 2013). Given the results from these studies, it may be prudent to take a more in-depth look into negative body image and body dissatisfaction as a public health issue.
Additionally, a theme that presented itself and is worth noting is social engagement and integration. Sabik (2017) mentions how social engagement and integration within middle-aged women populations is critical for aging well. Furthermore, social engagement is linked to increased levels of quality of life and even in maintaining a healthy physical life. Sabik (2017) discusses how social engagement has been found to lessen mortality rates and, in women, in particular, decrease the degrees of cognitive and physical limitations. Therefore, it may be beneficial for future research to focus specifically on social engagement and its influence on body perceptions, physical health, and general quality of life.
Synthetization and Conclusion
The literature surrounding body image and its impacts on self-esteem, physical health, and quality of life in middle-aged women is lacking. Research suggests that body image plays a notable role in this population's self-esteem, physical health, and overall quality of life; however, the research is too narrow in scope. Additional themes that came to light through the research process were the role of body function, social engagement, self-regulation, location of exercise, and even an underrepresentation of body type within the media. Nevertheless, from the given evidence, inferences can be made that midlife brings about several physical, emotional, and mental burdens, but it is still primarily unknown how to best mitigate these challenges. Thus, future objective studies must be conducted to expand knowledge and awareness of these complicated issues so that future preventive measures can be put into practice to increase this population's overall well-being and quality of life.
References
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