Development and validation of new figural scales for female body dissatisfaction assessment on two dimensions: thin-ideal and muscularity-ideal

Ralph-Nearman, Christina; Filik, Ruth

Abstract

Background:
Body dissatisfaction influences women’s mental and physical health. To date, most research has focused on body dissatisfaction in relation to the ‘thin-ideal’. Thus, the association between body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptomatology and muscularity-ideal in women is less clear. Lack of understanding is underpinned by the lack of reliable and valid muscularity-related assessments for women. To address this need, we developed, tested and re-tested two new body dissatisfaction scales: The Female Body Scale (FBS; adiposity dimension) and Female Fit Body Scale (FFITBS; muscularity dimension). Methods: One hundred and fifty-two women in the United Kingdom rated which body figure best represented their current and ideal body, completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q 6.0), and their body composition was measured. During re-test, the EDE-Q 6.0 and Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS) were completed. Results: Both the FBS and the FFITBS were found to be valid and reliable, and distinct types of body dissatisfaction were identified. Higher EDE-Q scores corresponded with greater body dissatisfaction scores on both the FBS and FFITBS. Thin-ideal (FBS) and larger/muscularity-ideal (FFITBS) body dissatisfaction predicted higher scores on the DMS. The muscularity scale (FFITBS) uniquely revealed that 28% of participants indicated body dissatisfaction toward the larger-muscularity-ideal. Conclusions: Results reveal distinct dimensions of body dissatisfaction. These new, validated scales may be utilized to quickly identify eating disorder risk in women as a preventative assessment for clinicians and inform female-focused body-image and eating disorder research.

Citation

Ralph-Nearman, C., & Filik, R. (2020). Development and validation of new figural scales for female body dissatisfaction assessment on two dimensions: thin-ideal and muscularity-ideal. BMC Public Health, 20, Article 1114. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09094-6

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 11, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jul 16, 2020
• Publication Date: Jul 16, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jun 18, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 21, 2020
• Journal: BMC Public Health
• Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 20
• Article Number: 1114
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09094-6
• Keywords: Female body dissatisfaction; Thinn-ideal; Eating disorders; Muscularity-ideal; Fit-ideal; Fitspiration; Body-image assessment; Body image; Drive for muscularity
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4673354
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-09094-6
• Additional Information: Received: 13 February 2020; Accepted: 12 June 2020; First Online: 16 July 2020; : Appropriate ethics approval was obtained through the School of Psychology Ethics Review Board at the University of Nottingham, and participants gave written consent prior to participation.; : N/A; : All authors declare no competing interests.