The factor structure and psychometric properties of an Arabic-translated version of the Body Appreciation Scale-2.

Abstract

The conduct of body image studies with Arab populations is hindered by a lack of psychometrically sound assessment measures. We examined the psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the most frequently employed measure of body appreciation, the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2). A sample of college-aged women from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (n=256) completed the Arabic BAS-2, and measures of aesthetic and functional body image, authentic body pride, and self-reported body mass index (BMI). Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the Arabic BAS-2 had a one-dimensional factor structure. BAS-2 scores were positively correlated with body image and body pride, but not with BMI. A psychometrically sound BAS-2 may now facilitate the conduct of cross-cultural work that includes the Arabic-speaking population, an often-neglected ethnic group in most body image studies.