eLoriCorps Immersive Body Rating Scale and eLoriCorps Mobile Versions: Validation to Assess Body Image Disturbances from Allocentric and Egocentric Perspectives in a Nonclinical Sample of Adolescents

Abstract

A growing number of studies have used virtual reality (VR) for the assessment and treatment of body image disturbances (BIDs). This study, conducted in a community sample of adolescents, documents the convergent and discriminant validity between (a) the traditional paper-based Figure Rating Scale (paper-based FRS), (b) the VR-based Body Rating Scale (eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1), and (c) the mobile app-based Body Rating Scale (eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile). A total of 93 adolescents (14 to 18 years old) participated in the study. Body dissatisfaction and body distortion were assessed through the paper-based FRS, the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile. Eating disorder symptoms, body image avoidance, and social physique anxiety were also measured. Correlation analyses were performed. Overall, the results showed a good and statistically significant convergence between allocentric perspectives as measured by the paper-based FRS, the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile. As expected, the egocentric perspective measured in VR produced different results from the allocentric perspective, and from cognitive–attitudinal–affective dimensions of BIDs, with the exception of body distortion. These differences support the discriminant validity of the egocentric perspective of eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1 and are consistent with emerging evidence, highlighting a difference between experiencing the body from an egocentric (i.e., the body as a subject) and allocentric (i.e., the body as an object) perspective. The egocentric perspective could reflect a perceptual–sensory–affective construction of BIDs, whereas allocentric measures seem to be more related to a cognitive–affective–attitudinal construction of BIDs. Moreover, the results support the validity of the eLoriCorps-IBRS 1.1-Mobile with promising perspectives of implementation among young populations.

Development of a visual‐perceptual method to assess body image: A cross‐cultural validation in Canadian and Spanish women

“…Another methodological limitation is that it was not possible to randomise the order of the assessment measures due to the limitations of the online platforms. Finally, future studies could also adapt the 3D continuum to other formats, for instance, by creating a virtual reality-based version and a paper-based version, in order to assess the convergent validity between these different assessment modalities, as suggested by other previous validation studies ( Monthuy-Blanc et al, 2022).…”

What my body looks like and what my body can do: A self-perception explanation of excessive exercise in young adults with anorexia and/or bulimia

“…The eLoriCorps Immersive Body Rating Scale 1.1 (eLoriCorps-IBRS; Monthuy-Blanc et al, 2022) was used to Blanc et al, (Monthuy-Blanc et al, 2020) for a description of the hardware] to examine a series of seven virtual bodies representing a gradient of body size and shape from underweight (VB#1) to overweight (VB#7). In the allocentric perspective, participants walked around and examined each body in the lineup to decide which one represents their own body size, and which one represents the ideal body they want to look like.…”

“…The e LoriCorps Immersive Body Rating Scale 1.1 ( e LoriCorps-IBRS; Monthuy-Blanc et al, 2022 ) was used to measure body image dissatisfaction and body image distortion according to allocentric and egocentric perspectives (see Figure 1 , note the screenshots are not perfect replicas of images displayed in VR because of variations in viewpoints in the egocentric illustration and a fisheye distortion in the allocentric illustration). The e LoriCorps-IBRS requires immersions in VR [see Monthuy-Blanc et al, ( Monthuy-Blanc et al, 2020 ) for a description of the hardware] to examine a series of seven virtual bodies representing a gradient of body size and shape from underweight (VB#1) to overweight (VB#7).…”

“…The screenshots are not perfect replicas of images displayed in VR because of variations in viewpoints in the egocentric illustration and a fisheye distortion in the allocentric illustration. Illustration reproduced from Monthuy-Blanc et al (2022) with the permission of the authors under the Creative Commons Attribution license.…”

“…Studies that focused on the relationship between EE and body image used classical paper questionnaires (e.g., Body scale questionnaire, Rousseau et al, 2005 ). However, body image is a multidimensional phenomenon that implies affective, cognitive and perceptual dimensions ( Monthuy-Blanc et al, 2020 , 2022 ). That complexity needs to be assessed through measures that allow to reflect those dimensions.…”