The Role of Body Image in the Prediction of Life Satisfaction and Flourishing in Men and Women

Abstract

Body dissatisfaction and appreciation are associated with personality factors and health outcomes in men and women. However, given that personality traits are well-established predictors of subjective well-being, it is important to control for their effects in prediction models. In the present study, it was hypothesized that body dissatisfaction and body appreciation significantly predict life satisfaction and flourishing above and beyond the influences of age, BMI, and personality factors. To test this hypothesis, an online sample of 112 male and 336 female adults completed measures assessing life satisfaction, flourishing, body dissatisfaction, body appreciation, and personality. The analyses demonstrated that women reported significantly greater body dissatisfaction, Neuroticism, Extraversion and Conscientiousness than men; however, there were no gender differences in body appreciation or the measures of well-being. Results of several hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that, once the effects of age, BMI, and personality were accounted for, body appreciation significantly predicted both life satisfaction and flourishing in men and women. Body dissatisfaction did not appear to withstand the regression tests, emerging as a statistically significant predictor of life satisfaction in women only. Further, the size of the coefficient was not as large as those of the other regressors, suggesting it was not as influential in the prediction of life satisfaction. These results have important implications for the promotion of well-being. Fostering body appreciation may promote individuals’ satisfaction with their lives and enhance levels of self-perceived success.