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Body image satisfaction and depression in midlife women: the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)

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Abstract

With aging, women’s bodies undergo changes that can affect body image perception, yet little is known about body image in midlife. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between body image and depressive symptoms in Caucasian and African–American midlife women from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) Chicago site. Body image was measured using the Stunkard Adult Female Figure Rating Scale, and a clinically significant level of depressive symptoms was defined as Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score of ≥16 (N = 405; N = 63 (15.6 %) with clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms). Differences between perceived actual, perceived ideal, and actual body size and responses to questions concerning weight satisfaction and attractiveness were examined using logistic regression for associations with a CES-D score of ≥16. Women with body image dissatisfaction (odds ratio (OR) = 1.91; p = 0.04) or who perceived themselves as “unattractive” (OR = 7.74; p < 0.01) had higher odds of CES-D of ≥16. We found no significant difference by race. Our results were not confounded by BMI. These results suggest that midlife women with poor body image may be more likely to have clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms. Larger prospective studies are needed to better understand this association.

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Acknowledgement

The SWAN has grant support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), DHHS, through the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), and the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH; grants U01NR004061, U01AG012505, U01AG012535, U01AG012531, U01AG012539, U01AG012546, U01AG012553, U01AG012554, and U01AG012495). The content of this manuscript is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIA, NINR, ORWH, or the NIH.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial relationship with the NIH, which funded the study (see Acknowledgements) and declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Center for Healthcare Studies, Chicago, IL, USA

    Kathryn L. Jackson

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Imke Janssen, Bradley M. Appelhans, Rasa Kazlauskaite, Kelly Karavolos, Sheila A. Dugan, Elizabeth A. Avery, Karla J. Shipp-Johnson, Lynda H. Powell & Howard M. Kravitz

  3. Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Bradley M. Appelhans & Lynda H. Powell

  4. Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology and Preventive Cardiology), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Rasa Kazlauskaite

  5. Department of Physical Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Sheila A. Dugan

  6. Department of Pharmacology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Lynda H. Powell

  7. Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Lynda H. Powell

  8. Department of Psychiatry, Rush University Medical Center, Rush West Campus, 2150 West Harrison Street Room 275, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Howard M. Kravitz

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  1. Kathryn L. Jackson
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  10. Howard M. Kravitz
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Correspondence to Howard M. Kravitz.

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Jackson, K.L., Janssen, I., Appelhans, B.M. et al. Body image satisfaction and depression in midlife women: the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Arch Womens Ment Health 17, 177–187 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-014-0416-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-014-0416-9

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