Body image, aging, and identity in women over 50: The Gender and Body Image (GABI) study

ABSTRACT

We conducted a qualitative study of 1,849 women over age 50 to capture the thoughts, feelings, and attitudes that women at middle age have about their bodies and the experience of aging. Via an open-ended question online survey, four primary themes emerged: (a) the physical and psychological experience of aging; (b) the injustices, inequities, and challenges of aging; (c) the importance of self-care; and (d) a plea for recognition of the need to maintain a contributory role in society. Results highlight the complexities of women’s psychological and physical aspects of aging and point toward important topics worthy of further study in this growing population.

KEYWORDS:

• Aging
• body image
• identity
• midlife
• women

Funding

The second author received funding from the National Institutes of Health (T32MH076694) and the Global Foundation for Eating Disorders (www.gfed.org). The financial sponsors played no role in the design, execution, analysis or interpretation of data. The last author is a consultant for Shire Biopharmaceuticals.

Additional information

Funding

The second author received funding from the National Institutes of Health (T32MH076694) and the Global Foundation for Eating Disorders (www.gfed.org). The financial sponsors played no role in the design, execution, analysis or interpretation of data. The last author is a consultant for Shire Biopharmaceuticals.