Development of Body Dissatisfaction in Women and Men at Different Educational Levels During the Life Course.

Abstract

Background: Our study examines the rarely investigated associations between body dissatisfaction and educational level over the life course in women and men.

Methods: A Finnish cohort (N = 1955) was followed by questionnaires at ages 22, 32, 42, and 52. Body dissatisfaction was measured by asking the respondents to evaluate their appearance using five response options. Analyses were done using logistic regression, while latent class analyses were used to identify classes of body dissatisfaction trajectories over the life course.

Results: Body dissatisfaction increased with age in women and men. Among men, body dissatisfaction was related to lower education at the ages of 32 and 42. Also, men with lower education were more likely to maintain a less positive body image over the life course. In women, increasing body dissatisfaction during the life course was associated with lower education.

Conclusions: Differences in body dissatisfaction based on educational level are important to take into account in public health actions aiming to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in health and well-being.