ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lower body image satisfaction has been linked with greater loneliness among young adults, but this relationship has not been investigated among older adults. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between body image and loneliness among young and older adult age cohorts as well as explore stigma consciousness as a mediator between body image dissatisfaction and loneliness among older adults. METHODS: Participants consisting of 459 young adults and 353 older adults over the age of 59 completed a cross-sectional survey regarding health and perceptions of aging from fall 2017 through spring 2018. RESULTS: Young adults had lower levels of body image satisfaction and higher levels of loneliness in comparison to older adults. The relationship between loneliness and body image satisfaction was stronger among young adults when compared to older adults. Among older adults, stigma consciousness mediated the relationship between body image satisfaction and loneliness. CONCLUSION: Older adults lower in body image satisfaction may be more conscious of age-based stigmas and thereby have greater loneliness.
