The body esteem scale for adults and adolescents: Translation, adaptation and psychometric validation among Brazilian adolescents

Smith, Harriet G; Garbett, Kirsty M; Matheson, Emily L; Amaral, Ana C S; Meireles, Juliana F F; Almeida, Mireille C; Hayes, Chloe; Vitoratou, Silia; Diedrichs, Phillippa C

Abstract

A lack of rigorously validated body image measures for use among adolescents is hampering research in Brazil. This study aimed to validate a Brazilian Portuguese version of the Body Esteem Scale for Adults and Adolescents (BESAA; Mendelson et al., 2001). The BESAA was forward and back translated from English into Brazilian Portuguese before examining its factor structure, reliability, and validity among 475 adolescents (50.3% girls) aged 13 – 18 years (Mage = 15.35) from various regions across Brazil. Exploratory factor analysis identified an 18-item three-factor solution, with Appearance-Positive, Appearance-Negative, and Weight subscales. The removal of five problematic items led to a psychometrically robust model, invariant across gender and age, and was verified using confirmatory factor analysis. Test re-test reliability and internal consistency were good-to-excellent across all three factors (Cronbach's a =0.85,.88, and.89). Concurrent validity was established through significant correlations with body dissatisfaction. Convergent validity was demonstrated via significant correlations with positive and negative affect. This Brazilian Portuguese version of the BESAA is a valid, reliable, and psychometrically robust measure of body image suitable for administration among adolescents in Brazil.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 27, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jun 29, 2022
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Aug 18, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 30, 2024
• Journal: Body Image
• Print ISSN: 1740-1445
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 42
• Issue: September 2022
• Pages: 213-221
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.05.012
• Keywords: Adolescents, Brazil, Body esteem, Body image, Psychometric validation
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9722861
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144522000997?via%3Dihub