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Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

Gender relations and applied research on aging.

Toni Calasanti¹

¹Department of Sociology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. toni@vt.edu

The Gerontologist

|October 20, 2010

Summary

This study introduces a new framework for understanding gender and aging, emphasizing how social inequalities shape older adults' financial security, caregiving roles, and health outcomes. It calls for research and practice that challenge gender-based disparities in later life.

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Sociology of Aging
Gender Studies

Background:

Traditional gerontology often overlooks gender, viewing it as learned traits.
Existing research lacks a framework to analyze the interplay between gender inequality and age-related social structures.
Gender differences in aging experiences are frequently observed but inadequately explained.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose a novel theoretical framework examining the intersection of gender inequality and age.
To demonstrate how this framework can explain gendered disparities in later life.
To apply the framework to key areas of older adult experiences: financial security, spousal care, and health.

Main Methods:

Theoretical framework development.
Analysis of existing research through the lens of social inequality.

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Last Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

Application of the framework to case studies in gerontology.

Main Results:

The proposed framework explains gender differences in aging as responses to social inequalities.
Financial security in old age is influenced by historical gender divisions of labor and discrimination, not just individual choices.
Gender ideals shape how men and women perform caregiving and engage in health behaviors, necessitating varied interventions.
The framework highlights how social stratification based on age and gender impacts resource distribution and responsibilities.

Conclusions:

Focusing on social inequality enhances gerontological research, practice, and policy for older adults.
Effective interventions must address the root causes of gender inequalities in later life.
Gerontologists should develop strategies that disrupt, rather than reinforce, gender-based disparities to promote favorable outcomes for all older individuals.