Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Body–Self Relations Questionnaire—Appearance Scales (MBSRQ-AS) in Chilean Youth

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the factorial structure of the Multidimensional Body–Self Relations Questionnaire—Appearance Scales (MBSRQ-AS) to determine the adjustment of the study structure proposed in the Spanish short version in a young, non-clinical Chilean population and to evaluate the possible influence of sex, age, and BMI on body image measurement. The sample consisted of 614 Chilean youth (259 male and 355 female) between 15 and 28 years old (M = 18.81; SE = 2.46), from the Metropolitan Region, and four regions of the coast and south-central zone of the country. The average Body Mass Index (BMI) was 22.5 kg/m2 (SD = 3.16). The model fit was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis (WLSMV) using the following: a model with a single general factor, a model with the five factors of the original version, a five-factor ESEM model, and a MIMIC model analyzed including sex, age, and BMI. The results show that the MIMIC sex, age, and BMI model presents an acceptable fit, observing that four factors, Appearance Orientation (AO), Body Areas Satisfaction (BAS), Overweight Preoccupation (OP), and Self-Classification Weight (SCW), are affected significantly for the sex variable, one for age, Appearance Evaluation (AE), and four for BMI (AE, BAS, OP, and SCW). In conclusion, MBSRQ-AS replicates the five-dimensional structure in a non-clinical sample of young Chileans; however, their scores are not invariant as they depend on sex, age, and BMI.

Influence of Body Image, Risk of Eating Disorder, Psychological Characteristics, and Mood-Anxious Symptoms on Overweight and Obesity in Chilean Youth

“…Multidimensional Body-Self Relationship Questionnaire Appearance Scales (MBSRQ_AS) [ 47 ]. An abbreviated self-administered questionnaire with 34 items, whose original version in Spanish was validated by Botella et al [ 48 ] and whose psychometric properties were analyzed in a Chilean sample [ 49 ]. Unlike the more extensive questionnaire (MBSRQ), this version focuses on perception and attitudes toward physical appearance, including five body image dimensions: Appearance Evaluation (AE); Appearance Orientation (AO); Overweight Preoccupation (OP); Self-classification by Weight (SCW); and Body Area Satisfaction (BAS).…”

“…To calculate the subscale scores of the EDI-3 and MBSRQ_AS instruments, the factor scores were used according to the analyses previously performed [ 49 , 51 ]. For the SCL90-R, we followed the indications of the authors of the Chilean validation [ 42 ].…”