Adapting the Body Appreciation Scale-2 for Children: A psychometric analysis of the BAS-2C

Halliwell, Emma; Jarman, Hannah; Tylka, Tracy; Slater, Amy

Abstract

© 2017 Positive body image among adults is related to numerous indicators of well-being. However, no research has explored body appreciation among children. To facilitate our understanding of children's positive body image, the current study adapts and validates the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2; Tylka & Wood-Barcalow, 2015a) for use with children. Three hundred and forty-four children (54.4% girls) aged 9–11 completed the adapted Body Appreciation Scale-2 for Children (BAS-2C) alongside measures of body esteem, media influence, body surveillance, mood, and dieting. A sub-sample of 154 participants (62.3% girls) completed the questionnaire 6-weeks later to examine stability (test-retest) reliability. The BAS-2C displayed a unidimensional factor structure and evidence of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct, criterion-related, and incremental validity. Additionally, the results suggest adaptive properties of body appreciation for body-related and emotional well-being among children. The BAS-2C could serve as an essential component within research to understand and estimate children's positive body image.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 25, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Apr 14, 2017
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Apr 10, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 14, 2018
• Journal: Body Image
• Print ISSN: 1740-1445
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Pages: 97-102
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.03.005
• Keywords: children, Body Appreciation Scale-2, positive body image, assessment, psychometrics, preadolescents, body image
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/885210
• Publisher URL: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.03.005
• Contract Date: Apr 24, 2017