Exploring the complexities of body image experiences in middle age and older adult women within an exercise context: The simultaneous existence of negative and positive body images.

Despite many body changes that accompany the aging process, the extant research is limited on middle age and older adults' body image experiences. The purpose of the present study was to explore how body image is represented for middle age and older adult women. Using thematic analysis, 10 women over the age of 55 were interviewed within an exercise context. The following themes were found: body dissatisfaction, body satisfaction despite ageist stereotypes, neutral body image within cohort, and positive body image characteristics. Negative and positive body images were experienced simultaneously, with neutral experiences expressed as low levels of dissatisfaction. This supports the contention that negative and positive body images exist on separate continuums and neutral body image is likely on the same continuum as negative body image. Programs that foster a social support network to reduce negative body image and improve positive body image in older female populations are needed.

"If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say, Then Don't Say Anything At All": Positive Appearance-Related Commentary and Physical Activity.

BACKGROUND: Despite the well-documented benefits of physical activity, North Americans remain insufficiently inactive. Consequently, determining what motivates individuals to engage in physical activity becomes increasingly important. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the frequency of negative appearance-related commentary and positive appearance-related commentary could predict physical activity behavior. METHODS: Participants were young adult women (N = 192) who completed a series of questionnaires to assess the frequency of appearance-related commentary they received and their physical activity behavior. RESULTS: A hierarchical regression analysis indicated the overall regression was significant, F (4,187) = 4.73, P < .001, R2 adj = .07, ΔR2= .07), with positive weight/shape appearance-related commentary (ß = 470.27, P < .001) significantly predicting physical activity behavior, while controlling for body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Providing positive reinforcement via positive weight/shape compliments may be beneficial to motivate physical activity participation.

What would you do? The effect of verbal persuasion on task choice.

Verbal persuasion has been shown to influence psychological and behavioral outcomes. The present study had two objectives: (1) to examine the effect of verbal persuasion on task choice in a balance setting and (2) to evaluate the use of verbal persuasion as an approach to experimentally induce mismatches between perceived and actual balance. Healthy young adults (N=68) completed an 8-m tandem walk task without vision and then were randomly assigned to a feedback group (good, control, or poor), regardless of actual balance. Following the feedback, participants chose to perform the task in one of three conditions differing in level of challenge and also were required to perform the task under the same pre-feedback conditions. Balance efficacy and perceived stability were rated before and after each pre- and post-feedback task, respectively. Balance performance measures were also collected. Following the feedback, participants in the good group were more likely to choose the most challenging task while those in the poor group were more likely to choose the least challenging task. Following the feedback, all groups showed improved balance performance. However, balance efficacy and perceived stability increased for the good and control groups but balance efficacy decreased and perceived stability was unchanged for the poor group. Thus, these findings demonstrate that verbal persuasion can influence task choice and may be used as an approach to experimentally create mismatches between perceived and actual balance.