Evidence of Validity, Invariance, and Reliability of the Body Image Dimension in the Body Investment Scale: A Study in Spanish University Students

This study aimed to analyse the psychometric properties of the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory-II (CEI-II) to provide evidence of validity for its use in research on health promotion and the quality of life of young Spanish university students. A sample of 807 participants (75.09% female) aged 18-26 years (M = 20.68; SD = 2.13) completed the CEI-II and health and quality of life measures questionnaire. A unidimensional structure was confirmed, but the original two-dimensional structure also showed an adequate fit. The measures obtained from the CEI-II were gender- and age-invariant, which exhibited adequate internal consistency for both the full scale and subscales, and showed a statistically significant relationship with life satisfaction, sense of coherence, and psychological distress. The CEI-II can be used as unidimensional, which is recommended, but also as a two-dimensional measure. Both structures provide reliable, valid, and invariant measures across gender and age of exploratory behaviours in Spanish university students. Furthermore, the results confirm the association between exploratory behaviours and greater health management.

Treatment for rectal and anal cancer (RACa) can result in persistent bowel and gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction. Body image problems may develop over time and exacerbate symptom-related distress. RACa survivors are an understudied group, however, and factors contributing to post-treatment well-being are not well understood. This study examined whether poorer body image explained the relation between symptom severity and psychological distress. Participants (N = 70) completed the baseline assessment of a sexual health intervention study. Bootstrap methods tested body image as a mediator between bowel and GI symptom severity and two indicators of psychological distress (depressive and anxiety symptoms), controlling for relevant covariates. Measures included the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-CR38) Diarrhea, GI Symptoms, and Body Image subscales and Brief Symptom Index Depression and Anxiety subscales. Women averaged 55 years old (SD = 11.6), White (79 %), and were 4 years post-treatment. Greater Depression was related to poorer Body Image (r = -.61) and worse Diarrhea (r = .35) and GI Symptoms (r = .48). Greater Anxiety was related to poorer Body Image (r = -.42) and worse GI Symptoms (r = .45), but not Diarrhea (r = .20). Body Image mediated the effects of bowel and GI symptoms on Depression, but not on Anxiety. Long-term bowel and GI dysfunction are distressing and affect how women perceive and relate to their bodies, exacerbating survivorship difficulties. Interventions to improve adjustment post-treatment should address treatment side effects, but also target body image problems to alleviate depressive symptoms. Reducing anxiety may require other strategies. Body image may be a key modifiable factor to improve well-being in this understudied population. Longitudinal research is needed to confirm findings.

Though conceptually distinct, mindfulness and sense of coherence (SOC) are empirically related aspects that promote health and wellbeing. The present research explored uniqueness by investigating criterion validity and incremental validity beyond the Big Five personality traits when predicting psychological distress, life satisfaction, and burnout. N = 1033 participated in a cross-sectional study. We used multiple regression analysis to examine the incremental validity of mindfulness (CHIME) and SOC (SOC-13) for psychological distress (SCL-K-9), life satisfaction (SWLS), and burnout (MBI-GS scales: emotional exhaustion, cynicism, personal accomplishment). Mindfulness and SOC had incremental validity over the Big Five traits. Despite a strong overlap (45% shared variance) between mindfulness and SOC, SOC was always the stronger predictor: psychological distress (β = −.52), life satisfaction (β = .57), emotional exhaustion (β = −.23), cynicism (β = −.40), and personal accomplishment (β = −.30). For psychological distress, life satisfaction, and cynicism, SOC statistically explained almost all the criterion validity of mindfulness. The clinical utility of mindfulness for predicting psychological health appears to be of minor importance relative to SOC, regardless whether meditators or non-meditators, who differed in mindfulness, were analyzed. Western approaches to assessing mindfulness may lack crucial social and existential dimensions.

The Body Investment Scale (BIS) assesses body image feelings, body care, protection of the body, and comfort in touch, in order to identify and distinguish participants with self-harming and self-destructive tendencies. However, the psychometric properties of the BIS were not analysed in participants diagnosed with eating disorders. The main objective of the present study is to confirm the factor structure of the Spanish version of the BIS and analyse its psychometric properties in a sample composed of women diagnosed with eating disorders. Participants were 250 Spanish women between 12 and 60years old (M=26.05, SD=11.97) diagnosed with eating disorders. A confirmatory factor analysis showed a poor fit of the original BIS. The final model showed an acceptable 4-factor structure (Body Feelings, α=.88; Body Touch, α=.82; Body Protection, α=.77; Body Care, α=.68), with a good fit to the data (SBχ2(246) =393.21, CFI=.906, IFI=.908, RMSEA=.049). The relationships between the BIS and both the Purpose-In-Life Test-10 Items and Beck Hopelessness Scale were analysed, as well as differences in the BIS score according to nonsuicidal self-injuries and suicidal ideation in the past year. The BIS is an appropriate instrument to assess the body investment dimension of body image in women with eating disorders.

COVID-19 has impacted negatively on the lives and academic activities of university students. This has contributed to increasing levels of psychological distress among this population group. Intrinsic and contextual factors can mediate the psychological impact of the pandemic. The study focuses on sense of coherence and ego-resilience as potential protective factors on indices of psychological distress and life satisfaction. Participants were undergraduate students (N = 337) at a South African university who completed six self-report questionnaires, namely, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the Sense of Coherence Scale, the Ego-Resilience Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. To examine the direct and mediating effects of sense of coherence and ego-resilience on psychological distress, structural equation modeling was used. Compared to previous research, greater psychological distress was found in the current sample. Moreover, while the hopelessness-life satisfaction relationship was only partially mediated by protective factors, the depression-life satisfaction relationship was fully mediated by sense of coherence and ego-resilience. The direct association between ego-resilience as well as sense of coherence and life satisfaction was significant, suggesting that these factors have a health-sustaining role.

To explore whether sense of coherence (SOC) is stable over time after multiple trauma. The associations between SOC and satisfaction with life as a whole, as well as aspects of psychological well-being, were explored. Finally, an overriding aim was to assess whether SOC has long-term prognostic value for global life satisfaction or psychological well-being. Prospective study. Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital. Twenty-six subjects with severe multiple trauma, without neuropsychological deficits. Questionnaires that were answered at admission, at discharge and at follow-up 1-3 years after trauma were: Sense of Coherence Scale 13 items (SOC-13), satisfaction with life as a whole, General Health Questionnaire 20 items (GHQ-20), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). While median SOC scores were fairly stable, individual scores were not stable over time, and for some subjects showed large variations. SOC score had neither long-term prognostic value for satisfaction with life as a whole nor for psychological well-being, at least not in the first years after severe multiple trauma. However, SOC was closely associated with overall life satisfaction when measured simultaneously. Furthermore, a weak SOC correlated with scores on psychological distress, anxiety and depression. SOC scores were also significantly related to being or not being in a state of anxiety, but not to being or not being depressed. Global life satisfaction was considerably reduced from before trauma (reported at admission) to the time of follow-up. SOC was not stable over time after severe multiple trauma. SOC measured at admission could neither predict future satisfaction with life as a whole nor future psychological well-being. Measured simultaneously, overall life satisfaction and occurrence of anxiety were significantly associated with SOC.

PurposeThis study examined what is associated with self-objectification, body uneasiness, body investment, and depersonalization in adults who altered their bodies. We tested adults involved in body modification (BM) or plastic surgery (PS), and we compared them to controls to clarify these associations.MethodsWe conducted an observational cross-sectional study of 235 adults (72.8% female) and grouped them into three categories: BM (n = 63), PS (n = 48), and controls (n = 124). Participants completed the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale, the Body Investment Scale, and the Body Uneasiness Test. We used analysis of covariance to compare groups while controlling for age and gender. We tested mediation by Body Investment Scale subscales and moderation by the number of BM and PS interventions in the relationship between self-objectification and depersonalization.ResultsPS showed the highest self-objectification and body uneasiness, BM was intermediate, and controls were lowest. Body investment, particularly the body image subscale, mediated the association between self-objectification and depersonalization. The number of BM interventions strengthened the association between body investment and depersonalization, and PS tended to moderate the direct link between self-objectification and depersonalization.ConclusionThese findings suggest that body investment partly explains the connection between self-objectification and depersonalization, and that BM and PS relate differently to depersonalization in nonclinical adults. Given the cross-sectional design, we can only draw associative (not causal) conclusions.Level of Evidence: III, observational cross-sectional study.

Individuals who are less invested in their bodies, experiencing symptoms of depression, and consuming alcohol are at increased risk for engaging in suicidal behaviors. This study examined the relationships among three risk factors - body investment, depression, and alcohol use - and suicide proneness as measured by the Life Attitudes Schedule - Short Form (LAS-SF) in college students (N = 318). Path analysis was used to construct a causal model of suicide proneness. The Body Investment Scale (BIS) subscales were assumed to be causally prior to depression, which was in turn modeled as occurring prior to alcohol use, which was in turn modeled as prior to suicide proneness. As expected, suicide proneness was positively predicted by alcohol use, alcohol use was positively predicted by depression, and depression was negatively predicted by the body image component of the BIS. Additionally, the body image-suicide proneness link was significantly mediated by depression and its direct effect on suicide proneness as well as by the two-mediator path of body image on depression on drinking on suicide proneness. Implications are offered for the improved identification and treatment of young adults at risk for suicidal and health-diminishing behaviors.

IntroductionBoth theoretical conceptualizations (M.&E. Laufers, E. Furman, J. Maltsberger, etc. ) and empirical studies (I. Orbach) suggest an important role body image plays in the dynamics of adolescent suicidal attempts.ObjectivesTo study the relationships between body image vulnerability and attachment attitudes concerning early care and current relationships.MethodsParticipants were 100 adolescents with suicidal behavior (46 with suicidal ideation only, 54 with suicide attempts) compared to 100 controls (12-17 years). Body attitudes were assessed with Body Investment Scale (BIS), perceived early care was assessed by Parental Bonding Inventory (PBI), current attachments experiences were assessed with Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ).ResultsAdolescents with suicidal manifestations scored significantly lower on BIS Body Care (p<.001) , but higher on Comfort with Touch scales (p=.05). They did not differ significantly on Body Image and Body Protection scales. With regard to perceived early care, suicidal adolescents did score lower on all Care and Control PBI scales, in both paternal and maternal forms. For current attachments suicidal adolescents scored lower on Confidence (p<.001) and higher on Approval Need (p<0.05) ASQ scales. Correlation analysis suggests, for both groups, stronger relationships of body attitude dimensions to current relationships than to perceived parental care, the former being more marked in clinical group, with Body Image scale being related to all ASQ scales ranging from r=-.32 to r=-.63.ConclusionsIn current study only weaker tendency to care for body in suicidal adolescents was noted. However, in suicidal group the relationship between body image vulnerability and negative experiences of current attachments was stronger.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

The present paper investigated possible gender and age differences on life satisfaction as well as the association between sense of coherence (SOC) and life satisfaction. The interaction effect of gender by SOC and age by SOC in relation to life satisfaction was also investigated. A total of 1,239 adolescents (13-18 years) from public elementary and secondary schools in Mid-Norway participated in the school-based survey study. Two-way between-groups ANOVA was employed to investigate gender and age differences on life satisfaction, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between SOC and life satisfaction, controlled for gender, age, physical activity, and subjective health. The results showed that boys scored higher on life satisfaction than girls across all ages, except in the age group 17-18 years, where girls scored higher than boys. SOC was strongly and positively associated with life satisfaction. However, no interaction effect of gender by SOC or age by SOC on life satisfaction was found, showing that the strength of the association between SOC and life satisfaction does not differ between genders or across age groups. The results give support for the positive role of SOC in relation to subjective well-being in adolescents.

The current study focused on the role of the sense of coherence (SOC) in the serial relationships among the fear of COVID-19, indices of psychological distress, and life satisfaction. It examined the hypothesis that an SOC would mitigate the impact of the fear of COVID-19 on psychological distress, which in turn would positively impact life satisfaction. Participants were school teachers (N = 355) who completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the trait scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the short form of the Sense of Coherence Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. A path analysis confirmed the mediating role of the dimensions of the SOC in the relationships among the fear of COVID-19, indices of psychological distress, and life satisfaction. Specifically, comprehensibility, meaningfulness, and manageability were found to mediate the associations between the fear of COVID-19 and anxiety, and the fear of COVID-19 and hopelessness, which in turn were associated with higher levels of life satisfaction. The findings confirmed that an SOC is an important source of resilience. Interventions that facilitate the re-appraisal of stressors as challenges and enhance the awareness of practical coping strategies can build an SOC and promote mental health.

Weight loss and exercise may improve body image. However, whether the addition of resistance or yoga exercise to a standard weight loss and aerobic exercise program further impacts changes in body image has not been examined. PURPOSE To determine the effect of adding resistance or yoga exercise to a standard weight loss and aerobic exercise program on body image. METHODS Fifty nine sedentary women (BMI = 30.7 ± 2.7 kg/m2, age = 45.3 ± 6.7 years) participated in a 12 month behavioral weight loss program that included diet and exercise. All subjects received the same diet intervention but were randomized to one of three exercise conditions: 1) AERO: aerobic exercise (40 min/d, 5 d/wk) 2: RES: aerobic exercise + resistance exercise (40 min/d, 5 d/wk aerobic + 3 d/wk of resistance exercise) or 3) YOGA: aerobic exercise + yoga exercise (40 min/d, 5 d/wk aerobic + 3 d/wk of yoga). Body Image was evaluated through the 69 item MBSRQ Questionnaire (Cash, 1986). Subscales included appearance evaluation (APPE), appearance orientation (APPO), fitness evaluation (FITE), fitness orientation (FITO), health evaluation (HLTE), health orientation (HLTO), illness orientation (ILLO), body-areas satisfaction (BAS), self-classified weight (SCW), and overweight preoccupation (OWPRE). RESULTS Repeated Measures ANOVA showed significant improvements in body image subscales at 6 and 12 months (p<0.01), with no significant differences between groups (AERO, RES, YOGA). Correlation coefficients were computed to determine the relationship between change in body image and change in body weight at 6 and 12 months. There was a significant correlation between improvement in FITO and weight loss at 6 months (r = 0.38, p< 0.01). There were significant correlations between weight loss at 6 and 12 months and corresponding improvements in APPE (r = 0.47, r = 0.33), HLTO (r = 0.32, r = 0.35), BAS (r = 0.42, r = 0.29), and SCW (r = 0.50, r = 0.57) (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION Weight loss which incorporates physical activity into the intervention leads to improvements in body image. The addition of resistance or yoga exercise to a weight loss program does not appear to further improve body image compared to what is achieved through weight loss which includes aerobic exercise. Supported by the National Institutes of Health (HL64991)

ملخص البحث يهدف البحث الى دراسة المخططات المعرفية لدى فئة الأقزام الراشدين وعلاقتها بکل من صورة الجسم والاکتئاب. تکونت العينة الاجمالية من 20 شخص بواقع 10 من الأقزام و10 من العاديين، بمتوسط عمر قدره 24.3 و 28,6 عام على التوالي. استخدمت الدراسة المنهج الارتباطي المقارن. قام المشارکون بالاجابة على قائمة المخططات المبکرة اللاتکيفية (ترجمة وتقنين الباحث) و مقياس صورة الجسم ( اعداد الباحث) و قائمة بيک للإکتئاب BDI. تم اختبار فروض الدراسة حول وجود فروق دالة بين متوسط درجات مجموعتي المشارکين على استخبار المخططات المبکرة اللاتکيفية ومقياس صورة الجسم ومقياس الإکتئاب في اتجاه ارتفاع درجات مجموعة الأقزام. ووجود علاقة إرتباطية ذات دلالة إحصائية بين الأعراض الإکتئابية وکل من تشوه صورة الجسم والمخططات المبکرة اللاتکيفية. وإسهام کلا من المخططات اللاتکيفية بمجالاتها المختلفة وتشوه صورة الجسم بأبعادهها المختلفة في التنبؤ بالأعراض الإکتئابية عند عينة الأقزام. کشفت نتائج الدراسة من انه توجد فروق دالة بين الأقزام والعاديين في متوسط درجات کل من المخططات اللاتکيفية وصورة الجسم والإکتئاب.و وجود إرتباط بين الإکتئاب وبعض مجالات المخططات اللاتکيفية لدى الأقزام. کما وجد إرتباط بين الإکتئاب وصورة الذات الجسمية و الإجتماعية لدى الأقزام. و اسفرت التحليلات الاحصائية عن ان المخطططات اللاتکيفية ( الدرجة الکلية ) وصورة الذات الجسمية يمکن أن تتنبأ بالإکتئاب لدى الأقزام . This research aims at examining the early mal-adaptive schema and its relationship to body image and depression in a sample of dwarfs. Participants of 20 adult divided into two groups, dwarfs (n=10) and normal (n=10), with average of age 24.3 and 28.6 successively. Using correlational comparative approach, participants completed the early maladaptive schema questionnaire (Young JF: translated form), Body image test (by the researcher) and Beck Depression inventory (BDI-II), to test first hypothesis that there is significant differences between the two groups of participants on early mal-adaptive schema questionnaire, body image test, and depression scores. Second hypothesis is that there is a significant correlation between depressive symptom scores and both of distorted body image and early mal-adaptive schema. Third hypothesis claims that both early maladaptive schema(and subfields scores), and distorted body image score could predict depressive symptoms in the dwarfs group. Results reveal that there are significant differences between dwarfs and normal participants on scores of early maladaptive schema, body image and depression. There are specific maladaptive schema fields significant correlate to depression in dwarfs. There are significant correlation between body image subscales and depression in Dwarfs. Early mal adaptive schema total score and physical body image could predict depression in dwarfs.

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a imagem corporal em pessoas com úlcera venosa. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo realizado em um Ambulatório de Feridas, localizado na cidade de Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais. Participaram do estudo 30 pessoas com úlceras venosas. Dois instrumentos foram utilizados: um questionário para a coleta de dados sociodemográficos e clínicos e a escala Body Investment Scale (BIS). RESULTADOS: Entre os 30 participantes, 16 (53,3%) eram do sexo feminino e 14 (46,7%), masculino; 25 (83,3%) tinham idade acima de 60 anos e 20 (66,7%) eram casados. A média do escore total na escala BIS foi de 34,0; e as médias dos escores para os domínios imagem corporal, cuidado pessoal, proteção corporal e toque corporal foram 16,30, 23,93, 5,53 e 18,30. Tais achados caracterizam que esses indivíduos com úlcera venosa que participaram do estudo apresentaram sentimentos negativos relacionados à própria autoestima, autoimagem e à piora na qualidade de vida. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados do estudo apontaram que os indivíduos com úlceras venosas apresentavam alterações nos domínios imagem corporal, proteção corporal e no toque corporal, ou seja, manifestaram ter sentimentos negativos com relação ao seu corpo.

Body image dissatisfaction is one of the major factors that motivate patients to undergo plastic surgery. However, few studies have associated body satisfaction with reduction mammaplasty. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of breast hypertrophy and reduction mammaplasty on body image. Breast hypertrophy patients, with reduction mammaplasty already scheduled between June 2013 and December 2015 (mammaplasty group, MG), were prospectively evaluated through the body dysmorphic disorder examination (BDDE), body investment scale (BIS), and breast evaluation questionnaire (BEQ55) tools. Women with normal-sized breasts were also evaluated as study controls (normal-sized breast group, NSBG). All the participants were interviewed at the initial assessment and after six months. Data were analyzed before and after six months. Each group consisted of 103 women. The MG group had a significant improvement in BDDE, BIS, and BEQ55 scores six months postoperatively (P ≤ 0.001 for the three instruments), whereas the NSBG group showed no alteration in results over time (P = 0.876; P = 0.442; and P = 0.184, respectively). In the intergroup comparison it was observed that the MG group began to invest more in the body, similarly to the NSBG group, and surpassed the level of satisfaction and body image that the women of the NSBG group had after the surgery. Reduction mammaplasty promoted improvement in body image of women with breast hypertrophy.