This study explored relationships between body appreciation, health-related quality of life, and age, in an age-diverse sample of 289 women in the United States. Linear regression indicated the relationship between body appreciation and the physical component of health-related quality of life varied by age. For women aged 36 years and older, there was a positive relationship between body appreciation and health-related quality of life; however, a negative relationship was present for other age groups. Findings have clinical implications and suggest body appreciation may buffer the decline in physical health-related quality of life that occurs as age increases.
Keywords: age; body appreciation; body image; quality of life; women’s health.