Social Support and Body Image in Group Physical Activity

The purpose of this research was to examine how social support in group physical activity programs shaped older adult women’s positive and negative body image.

We interviewed women aged 65 and older who had participated in group physical activity programs about their experiences with body function and appearance, and how the group physical activity context shaped their body image. Our aim was to understand what social behaviours support positive body image and help to cope with negative body image in the context of group physical activity.

This study was funded by a Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging Catalyst Grant.