Ageing and Its Effect on Body-Self Image, Mood and Self Esteem of Middle Age Women and Older Women.

Abstract

Ageing is an important part of all human societies reflecting not only the biological changes that occur, but also reflecting cultural and societal conventions. Chronological ageing may also be distinguished from „social ageing‟ and „biological ageing‟. There is also a distinction between „proximal ageing‟ (age-based effects of recent past) and „distal ageing‟ (differences because of incidences early in life that can be traced back to a reason early in person's life like an early marriage, early pregnancy etc). In our youth-oriented, patriarchal society, aging women often find themselves either ignored, pitied, or feared which is why most women are very concerned with the ageing factor. The effect of ageing is seen more in middle age women because they are neither fully old nor are they young. They are still compromising with the fact that “age” is slipping out of their hands. Middle age is a phase of transition from young age to old age and this fact of finally accepting age is quite stressful for many. A post menopausal woman is often found to be more accepting to the fact of ageing, and more comfortable physically and emotionally. The present study is conducted to study the effect of Ageing on Body self image, mood and self esteem of middle age women and older women. A sample of 160 women in the age range of 45-55years and older women in the age range of 55-65years is taken .It is hypothesized that middle age women have low body self image, low mood and are low on self esteem. The research provides an insight into understanding women especially in her transition to an older woman; it further enables society to develop better mental as well as physical health reforms which are the need of the day for every single woman.