The Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire: Assessment of its Construct Validity in a Community Sample of French Adolescents

Abstract

The present results provide preliminary evidence regarding the construct validity of the BIAQ in a community sample of French adolescents.

Profiles of body image disturbance and their external correlates

“…Body image avoidance behaviors have long been understood as actions taken to avoid situations that incite negative body image evaluation and concern regarding an individual's physical appearance (Rosen, Srebnik, Saltzberg, & Wendt, 1991). Statistical investigations of the aspects of body image avoidance indicate that the disturbance is associated with wearing certain types of clothing to disguise one's body, inhibited social activities, restrained eating, and atypical grooming habits (Maïano et al, 2009). Such findings support the originally hypothesized features of body image avoidance such as abstaining from social outings, wearing oversized clothing, reduced physical intimacy, and eating less (Rosen et al, 1991).…”

“…In literature specifically considering BID, however, this component is sometimes described as cognitive-affective (Ahrberg et al, 2011;Maïano et al, 2009). This merger is intuitive in the context of a disturbance in body image.…”

“…Because negative evaluation and affect is an inherent and invariable part of BID, considering it as an independent component is unnecessary. Given the precedent of viewing affects and attitudes alongside cognitions in BID (Ahrberg et al, 2011;Maïano, 2009), the present study will consider a joint cognitive-affective component of body image.…”

“…While body image -and BID by extension -was originally considered unidimensional, modern theoretical models and research support a multidimensional conceptualization of BID (Banefield & McCabe, 2002;Cash & Pruzinsky, 2002;Maïano, Monthuy-Blanc, & Garbarino, 2009;Thompson et al, 1999;Zanetti et al, 2013).…”

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ABSTRACTExisting theory and empirical investigations indicate that body image disturbance (BID) is a multidimensional disturbance, composed of several related yet distinguishable components (e.g., cognitive-affective, behavioral, and health/fitness related components; Banefield & McCabe, 2002; Cash, 2002;Maïano, Monthuy-Blanc, & Garbarino, 2009;Thompson et al, 1999;Zanetti, Santonastaso, Sgaravatti, Degortes & Favaro, 2013). There is little research, however, that addresses the common presentations of theorized components of body image in individuals.

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