Sex Roles, Vol. 43, Nos. 1/2, 2000 The Effect of Exercise on Body Satisfaction and Self-Esteem as a Function of Gender and Age Marika Tiggemann 1 and Samantha Williamson Flinders University of South Australia The study investigated the relationship between amount of exercise and psy- chological well-being in a broadly based sample. A questionnaire assessing amount of exercise, reasons for exercise, body satisfaction, and self-esteem was completed by 252 participants between the ages of 16 and 60 years. Almost all participants (95%) were White. Participants were divided into four groups on the basis of gender and age, resulting in 70 young women, 48 young men, 73 mature women, and 61 mature men. Significant negative relationships between amount of exercise and body satisfaction and self- esteem were found for young women, and positive relationships for the remainder of the sample. Women exercised more for reasons of weight control, tone, and mood enhancement than men. For the whole sample, the first two of these reasons were associated with lower body satisfaction, while exercising for health and fitness reasons was associated with increased self- esteem. It was concluded that reasons for exercising did not provide an adequate explanation for the obtained difference in correlations across gender and age. Since the 1970s there has been an increased emphasis on health and fitness in the Western world, with promotion through magazine articles and television programs and the establishment of many gymnasiums and health clubs (e.g. Wiseman, Gray, Mosimann, & Ahrens, 1992). Correspondingly, there has been a considerable increase in the number of people undertaking regular aerobic exercise (Plante & Rodin, 1990). Not only does such exercise im- prove physical health, but there is now a considerable body of research consisting of both experimental and correlational studies (e.g., Stein & 1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, The Flinders University of South Australia, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Austra- lia, 5001; e-mail: marika.tiggemann@flinders.edu.au. 119 0360-0025/00/0700-0119$18.00/0  2000 Plenum Publishing Corporation