Body Image Distress and Its Associations From an International Sample of Men and Women Across the Adult Life Span: Web-Based Survey Study.

Alyssa Milton,Ashlea Hambleton,Ian Hickie,Anna Flego,Tracey Davenport,Anna Roberts,Jane Burns

doi:10.2196/25329

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious research on body image distress mainly relied on samples that were small, generally homogeneous in age or sex, often limited to one geographical region, and were characterized by a lack of comprehensive analysis of multiple psychosocial domains. The research presented in this paper extends the international literature using the results of the web-based Global Health and Wellbeing Survey 2015. The survey included a large sample of both men and women aged ≥16 years from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States.ObjectiveThe main objectives of this study are to examine body image distress across the adult life span (≥16 years) and sex and assess the association between body image distress and various psychosocial risk and protective factors.MethodsData were extracted from the Global Health and Wellbeing Survey 2015, a web-based international self-report survey with 10,765 respondents, and compared with previous web-based surveys conducted in 2009 and 2012.ResultsThe body image distress of young Australians (aged 16-25 years) significantly rose by 33% from 2009 to 2015. In 2015, 75.19% (961/1278) of 16- to 25-year-old adults reported body image distress worldwide, and a decline in body image distress was noted with increasing age. More women reported higher levels of body image distress than men (1953/3338, 58.51% vs 853/2175, 39.22%). Sex, age, current dieting status, perception of weight, psychological distress, alcohol and other substance misuse, and well-being significantly explained 24% of the variance in body image distress in a linear regression (F15,4966=105.8; P<.001).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the significant interplay between body image distress and psychosocial factors across age and sex.

Highlights

IntroductionThere is scant large-scale international research examining body image across the adult life span [4] and from the perspectives of both men and women [5]
BackgroundThere is a clear need to understand and address body image distress, when considering the increasing prevalence rates of body image distress worldwide [1,2,3] and the noted relationship between body image distress and mental ill-health [4]
This study extends the international literature using the results of the Global Health and Wellbeing Survey 2015, a large web-based https://formative.jmir.org/2021/11/e25329

Summary

Introduction

There is scant large-scale international research examining body image across the adult life span [4] and from the perspectives of both men and women [5]. Given the difference between current body ideals and the actual body shape and size of most of the population, it is not surprising that many people view their bodies negatively and experience distress because of this negative self-perception [12]. Previous research on body image distress mainly relied on samples that were small, generally homogeneous in age or sex, often limited to one geographical region, and were characterized by a lack of comprehensive analysis of multiple psychosocial domains. The survey included a large sample of both men and women aged ≥16 years from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States. Objective: The main objectives of this study are to examine body image distress across the adult life span (≥16 years) and sex and assess the association between body image distress and various psychosocial risk and protective factors

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion