Positive and negative body-related comments and their relationship with body dissatisfaction in middle-aged women

Abstract

We examined the relationship between body-related comments recalled across the life span and current body esteem among 898 54-year-old female participants from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development. A significant effect of negative comments while growing up, which was independent of comments from partner, suggests an enduring adverse impact of these early comments on midlife body esteem. There was no evidence that the detrimental effect of negative comments recalled while growing up could be reversed by compliments from one’s partner. Partner comments (positive or negative) had a greater impact on the body esteem of thinner women and of women who had received positive comments while growing up. Results suggest that an impact of social feedback on body esteem is not restricted to young samples, and that comments received in adulthood (and not just during childhood or adolescence) should be taken into account.

Keywords:

• Body image
• Middle-aged women
• Body-related comments
• Teasing

Notes

¹Among a sample of women who had both self-report weight values from 2000 (age 54) and measured weight values from 1999 (age 53), the correlation between the two was high (Pearson r = 0.94, p < 0.001, n = 1138) indicationg that use of self-report data did not unduly influence results obtained.

*Constant = Mean weight esteem score for women of mean BMI in absence of partner comments

**Centered around mean.