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Forever Young? The Desire for Attractiveness and Youthfulness at Advanced Age
Brigitte Jenull, Nadja Frate, Carlotta Mayer
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DOI:10.17265/1539-8080/2018.09.007
Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria
Media and advancement in technology prepared ideal images enhancing many people’s desire for being forever young and looking youthful. The present study uses a mixed methods design to investigate body satisfaction and anti-aging behavior in women and men over 50 years of age. The findings indicate that most of the participants (N = 126, 78%) feel younger than they are but also less attractive than the younger sample which leads to a lower level of satisfaction. Results also show differences in participants’ health and beauty behavior concerning their perceived attractiveness, their age, and BMI. Participants’ most disliked body part is their belly. An age appropriate clothing style also seemed to be important to the sampling. In a society with performance-related demands, even with strange ideal images of aging, the development and maintenance of a positive age identity becomes a great challenge.
advanced age, aging, anti-aging, body satisfaction, age identity, clothing styles
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