Self-esteemand body satisfactionin elderly practicing and non practicingphysicalactivity

Abstract

The aim of thestudy was to compare the behaviorself-esteem andbody satisfactionofelderlyparticipantsand non-participantsofbodily activities. This research was across-sectional andcomparative46elderlyparticipants inphysical activitiesof aUNATI(Open University of the ThirdAge) and 106older register inFamily HealthStrategy program. Fordata collection, conductedthrough interviews, we used theRosenbergScaleandScaleSilhouettes. The study was conductedin the periodJune to December2012 andthe results showed thatolderparticipantsUNATIhave ahigherself-esteem(M=35.25, SD=3,9) when compared tonon-elderly participants(M=32.80, SD =5,3) (t_c=2,751; p=0,007), self-imagehasno significant difference: participants (M=2.52, SD=1,9) and non-participantes (M=1,89, SD= 2,1) (t_c=1,733; p=0,085). It is concluded thatelderlypractitioners ofbody activitieshave betterself-esteem.

Aging; Body image; Self-esteem