On Redefining the Body Image Satisfaction Questionnaire: A Preliminary Test of Multidimensionality.

Filipe Rodrigues,Pedro Forte,Diogo Monteiro,Pedro Flores

doi:10.3390/healthcare9070876

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the Body Image Satisfaction Questionnaire (BISQ) as a multidimensional instrument, designed to measure individuals’ body image satisfaction. A sample of 790 Portuguese healthy adults (female = 399; male = 391) aged 18 and 49 years old (M = 28.61, SD = 7.97) completed the BISQ. Exploratory factor analysis of the BISQ provided initial psychometric validity for a five-factor model assessing five dimensions of body image, namely, face, upper torso, lower torso, lower body, and overall body appearance. Confirmatory factor analysis supported this five-correlated model, in which a bifactor model provided the best fit to the data, defining a body image satisfaction factor and five specific factors. The BISQ clearly distinguished between various dimensions of body image satisfaction and showed satisfactory psychometric quality through factor analyses. This measure may have a broad application for research and practice, as a tool for capturing individual body image satisfaction.

Highlights

Body image (BI) is a self-perception about a person’s physical appearance [1] that has been heavily influenced by society through social media, television, interpersonal connections, and covers in magazines and printed media [2]
Using exploratory factor analysis on the 23-item matrix related to the BI satisfaction, we have examined a structure-validated self-report, the Body Image Satisfaction Questionnaire (BISQ) [12] in a sample of healthy Portuguese adults
The disclosure of five factors namely, face, upper torso, lower torso, lower body, and body appearance has confirmed our hypothesis regarding the multidimensional structure of the BISQ, which confirms multidimensionality proposed by Flores et al [13]

Summary

Introduction

Body image (BI) is a self-perception about a person’s physical appearance [1] that has been heavily influenced by (and in) society through social media, television, interpersonal connections, and covers in magazines and printed media [2]. BI is closely related to self-esteem, psychological health, and eating disorders [4,5]. BI is a multidimensional concept, in which cognitive (e.g., self-esteem, self-image, attitudes), affective (e.g., positive and negative affect, mood), and behavioral (e.g., eating disorder, food craving) factors are examined to understand people with healthy or unhealthy perceptions of their bodies. Other cross-sectional studies have found a positive correlation between body image satisfaction and healthy eating habits and self-esteem in girls and boys transitioning from early to mid-adolescence [10]. The assessment of body image is important, as it can contribute to an understanding of how different body parts may be related to different behavioral, cognitive, and perceptual determinants, such as healthy or unhealthy eating, positive or negative affect, and positive or negative self-esteem

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