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Running head: LIFESPAN OF WOMEN

Across the lifespan of women, when do they report the highest level of body appearance satisfaction and how is

it related to their sexual satisfaction?

Hina Rahat Aslam

University of Michigan
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Introduction

Body image is a multidimensional construct, which refers to the psychologically experience of embodiment

(Robbins&Reissing, 2017). One component of body image is appearance satisfaction. How a woman perceives

and feels about her appearance can have a various aspect of her life. One area of her life that can be affected is

her sexual life. Body image and sexuality in this sense cannot be divided. This study examines the relationship

between body appreciation and sexual satisfaction. The main aim of this study is to investigate across the

lifespan of women when to they report the highest level of body appearance satisfaction and how is it related to

their sexual satisfaction? For this study following hypothesis are formed: Hypothesis 1: Young women will

report the highest level of body satisfaction but not sexual satisfaction, Hypothesis 2:  Women in midlife will

report the highest level of sexual satisfaction, Hypothesis 3:  Overall most women who report having high

appearance satisfaction will also have higher sexual satisfaction; having positive body appearance satisfactions

leads to higher sexual satisfaction.

Literature Review

A study by Robbins & Reissing (2017) included sample which included 215 heterosexual women, aged

18-88 years old. This is a quantitative study in which interviews were administered. The main findings of this

included body appreciation was a unique predictor of sexual function, body appreciation was not found to

fluctuate with age. This supports my argument, since body appreciation is one the constructs of body

appreciation and positive body appreciation play a positive relationship with sexual satisfaction. I believe same

will be true for body appearance satisfaction

A study by Goldsmith & Byers (2016) sample of the participants consisted of 35 men and 57 women

between the ages 18 to 29 years, who were predominantly heterosexual and white. This was a qualitative study

in which the main findings revealed that partners were an important source of feedback for their partners sense

of body image and sexual well-being. Many participants reported that positive body-related messages led to

sexual empowerment and fulfillment and vice versa. This supports my argument because, since younger
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women fit the ideal standard of beauty, they will get more positive feedback from their partner. Which in return

increase their body appearance satisfaction.

A study by Thorpe, Fileborn, Hawkes, Pitts, & Minichiello (2015) investigated sexual subjectivities of

first post-liberation generation of Australian women. They explored how these women conceptualized their

bodies in the context of contemporary ideologies on gender and ageing. This is a qualitative study of 28 women,

heterosexual, ages 55-72 years old. Their main findings suggest that many women struggled to associate the

image of older bodies with sexual desirability. This finding supports my argument by providing evidence that

higher body appearance satisfaction will correlate with higher sexual satisfaction.

This paper by Lemer, Salafia, & Benson (2013) was interested in examining the relationship between

sexual attitudes and engagement in sexual activity. The sample participants were of 401 college women. It is a

quantitative and cross-sectional study which main findings revealed that women who had more liberal sexual

attitudes also reported higher levels of sexual activity and higher body image satisfaction than women with

conservative attitudes. Since, younger women might carry more liberal attitudes than older women, therefore,

this gives supports to my argument that younger women will have the highest body appearance satisfaction.

This paper by Claudat & Warren (2014) investigated a theoretical model looking into the relationships

between body surveillance, body shame, body self-consciousness during sexual activity. Study participants

were 368 female, college students, 18-24 years old, diverse racial groups white, Hispanic, Asian and black, and

heterosexual. This was a quantitative study which findings highlighted the negative consequences of body

image concerns for women’s sexual satisfaction. This gives evidence to my argument that having high

appearance satisfaction will lead to having higher sexual satisfaction.

A paper by Traeen, Carvalheira, Kvalem, Stulhofer, Janseen Graham, Hald, & Enzlin (2017) aimed to

explain narrative literature published 2005-2015 from database Ovid PsycINFO on sexual satisfaction and body

image in older adults. The sample of this study were men and women age 65+ years old. Main findings suggest

that older women appear to be less vulnerable to body-related dissatisfaction than younger women and despite
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body changes reported satisfaction with their sex life. Since the study shows that positive body image relates to

more satisfied sex life, this supports my hypothesis 2.

A paper by Thomas, Hamm, Hass, & Thurston (2019) aimed to explore the role of body image in sexual

function and satisfaction in a racially diverse group of women 45-60 years of age. There were (total N=39)

heterosexual participants, ages 45-60 years old, racially diverse group. This is a qualitative study which

gathered data from interviews. Main themes emerged that feeling attractive was an important reason for sexual

activity. Response to changes in appearance affected sexual satisfaction. This gives evidence to my argument

that high appearance satisfaction will also lead to higher sexual satisfaction.

This paper by Quinn, Benson, Milhausen, Buchholz, & Goncalves (2016) was interested in addressing

the specific type of body image (evaluative, affective, and behavioral effect on sexual functioning. The sample

of participants included primarily 88 white, heterosexual, of the age range 18-25 years old. This was a

quantitative study in which their main findings suggested the linkage between body image and sexual

functioning constructs, such as, poor evaluative, affective, and behavioral body image were detrimental to

women’s sexual functioning. This article supports my argument of that younger women will report the highest

body appearance satisfaction since they are the ideal societal expectation of ideal and youth.

Synthesis of the Literature: Drawing across these articles, these two studies by Lemer, Salafia, & Benson

(2013) and Goldsmith & Byers (2016) partially support and lean towards my argument that younger women

will report the highest body appearance satisfaction. Thomas, Hamm, Hass, & Thurston (2019) and Quinn,

Benson, Milhausen, Buchholz, & Goncalves (2016) lean to support my argument that women who report the

high in body appearance will also report higher sexual satisfaction. I also acknowledge that Robbins &

Reissing (2017), Claudat & Warren (2014) and Traeen, Carvalheira, Kvalem, Stulhofer, Janseen Graham, Hald,

& Enzlin (2017) partially go against my argument that youngest women will report the highest body appearance

satisfaction. Thorpe, Fileborn, Hawkes, Pitts, & Minichiello (2015) also goes against my argument that women

who report having high appearance satisfaction will also have higher sexual satisfaction.
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Argument with rationale: Based on the Literature, Quinn, Benson, Milhausen, Buchholz, & Goncalves

(2016) and Thomas, Hamm, Hass, & Thurston (2019) I would argue that their studies revealed that feeling

attractive was an important reason for sexual activity. Also, linkage between body image and sexual

functioning constructs were detrimental to women’s sexual functioning shows evidence to my main argument

that women who have high body appearance satisfaction will also have high sexual satisfaction.

Intersectionality: Intersectionality was addressed in my study by have a wide age range and having various

races representation in the participants.

Methods

Participants

In this longitudinal study, we recruited (N=1000) heterosexual Women, starting from age 18-22 years old. I

followed them until they reached the age of 88 years old.   Our participants were from a diverse racial

background, 40 % White, 30 % Black, 10% Hispanic, 10% Asia and 10% other. Participants were recruited

various colleges across the United States. These colleges included NYU, Massachusetts Institute of

Technology, University of Illinois, University of California, and University of Texas. They were recruited

through flyers, phone calls, on-line request and psychology professor’s involvement in campus.

Study Design and Procedure

This was a longitudinal study and a quantitative study looking at correlations between body appearance

appreciation and sexual satisfaction. The predictor body image-appearance appreciation was measured by using

BAS Items, 13-item body appreciation scale (BAS; Avalos, Tylka, & Wood-Barcalow, 2005) I administered

these questionnaires every 5 years.  Starting from age 18 until they reached the age of 88 years old. I measured

the outcome sexual satisfaction by using the SSS-W is a brief, 30-item measure of sexual satisfaction and sexual

distress, composed of five domains supported by factor analyses: contentment, communication, compatibility,
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relational concern, and personal concern. Participants were compensated for their participation. They took the

questionnaires at the convenience of their homes online every 5 years.

Results

This study was looked at correlation between appearance satisfaction and sexual satisfaction. This study

demonstrated and supported Hypothesis 3, that as women experienced higher levels of body appearance

satisfaction, they also experienced higher sexual satisfaction. Hypothesis 2 was also supported. Women in

midlife experienced highest sexual satisfaction; however, they also reported the highest body appearance

satisfaction. One explanation could be that as they got older, they were less vulnerable against societal young

and thin ideal. Hypothesis 1 was not supported. Younger women did not report the highest body appearance

satisfaction.

Discussion

The implications of the hypothesis are supported is that having high body appearance satisfaction in women

is linked to having higher sexual satisfaction. In this study, even though younger women fit the ideal woman

they didn’t report the highest in body appearance satisfaction. This study shows even though societal ideal

women expectation is entrenched age can produce barriers to counter those ideals, such as, body appreciation.

One implication from this study is to provide intervention early on for body positivity and body acceptance

which can perhaps counter negative body appearance in women. Some of the limitation of this study included

lack of diversity in sexual orientation in our participants. So, our findings cannot be applied to non-

heterosexuals. Also, since my focus was primarily on Appearance satisfaction and sexual satisfaction, from the

questionnaires conducted I was not able to detect any other possible variable that might have made women in

midlife having higher body appearance satisfaction and sexual satisfaction. Future research should follow up

from our study by investigating reasons why women in midlife experienced higher body appearance
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satisfaction. I would improve the representation of intersectionality in my study by including a more diverse

sexual orientation such as lesbian, bisexual, and pansexual.

References
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Claudat, K., & Warren, C. S. (9/2014). Self-objectification, body self-consciousness during

sexual activities, and sexual satisfaction in college women. Body Image, 11(4), 509–515. Journal

Article, Netherlands: Elsevier Ltd.

Goldsmith, K. M., & Byers, E. S. (2016). Perceived impact of body feedback from romantic

partners on young adults’ body image and sexual well-being. Body Image, 17, 161–170. doi:

org.proxy.lib.umich.edu/10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.03.008

Lemer, J. L., Salafia, E. H. B., & Benson, K. E. (2013) The Relationship

Between College Women’s Sexual Attitudes and Sexual Activity: The Mediating Role of Body

Image, International Journal of Sexual Health, 25:2, 104-114, doi: 10.1080/19317611.2012.722593

Robbins, A., & Reissing, E. (2018). Appearance Dissatisfaction, Body Appreciation, and Sexual

Health in Women Across Adulthood. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 47(3), 703–714. doi 10.1007/s10508-

017-0982-9

Quinn-N., Benson, L., Milhausen, R., Buchholz, A., & Goncalves, M. (2016). The Relationship

Between Body Image and Domains of Sexual Functioning Among Heterosexual, Emerging Adult

Women. Sexual Medicine, 3(4), 182-189. doi: org.proxy.lib.umich.edu/10.1016/j.esxm.2016.02.004

Thomas, H. N., Hamm, M., Borrero, S., Hess, R., & Thurston, Rebecca C. (1/1/2019). Body

Image, Attractiveness, and Sexual Satisfaction Among Midlife Women: A Qualitative Study. Journal of

Women’s Health, 28(1), 1–106. Journal Article, United States: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

Thorpe, R., Fileborn, B., Hawkes, G., Pitts, M., & Minichiello, V. (2015). Old and desirable

Older women’s accounts of ageing bodies in intimate relationships. Sexual and Relationship

Therapy, 30(1), 156–166. doi-org.proxy.lib.umich.edu/10.1080/14681994.2014.959307

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Træen, B., Carvalheira, A., Lundin Kvalem, I., Štulhofer, A., Janssen, E., Graham, C., Hald, M.,

& Paul Enzlin (2017) Sexuality in Older Adults (65+)—An Overview of The Recent Literature, Part 2:

Body Image and Sexual Satisfaction, International Journal of Sexual Health, 29:1, 11-

21, doi: 10.1080/19317611.2016.1227012