Sources of body comparison and their relation to body image concerns among middle-aged women

The aim of the current study is to evaluate different sources of body comparison (e.g., same-sex peers, models, young adult celebrities, middle-aged celebrities, older celebrities, and self-oriented body comparison to one's younger self) and their relation to body image concerns among middle-aged women. Participants were 347 middle-aged women, ages 40-63, who completed questionnaires. After controlling for multiple comparisons, results indicated that participants engaged in body comparison to same-sex peers most frequently, followed by self-oriented body comparison, compared to other sources, and in body comparison to young adult celebrities significantly less frequently than any other source. Additionally, same-sex peers body comparisons and self-oriented body comparisons were significantly associated with body image concerns above and beyond all other sources of comparison. Results highlight limitations of past research into social comparison due to the lack of consideration of the novel construct of self-oriented body comparison, which demonstrates unique linkages to body image concerns above and beyond previously established external sources.