Factor structure and psychometric properties of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 in university students in Hong Kong. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Swami, Viren; Ng, Siu-Kuen
• Is Part Of: Body image. Volume 15(2015)
• Page Start: 68
• Page End: 71
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Body appreciation -- Positive body image -- Cultural equivalence -- Factor structure -- Hong Kong; Body image -- Periodicals; Body image -- Research -- Periodicals; Body Image -- Periodicals; 306.4613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.06.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-1445

Abstract

Highlights: Chinese Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) has a one-dimensional structure. Chinese BAS-2 has very good internal consistency and good convergent validity. Men have higher body appreciation than women in Hong Kong. Abstract: Previous studies have suggested that there may not be cross-cultural equivalence in the factor structure of body appreciation. Here, we examine the conceptual equivalence of a Chinese (Cantonese) translation of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2;Tylka & Wood-Barcalow, 2015b ), a newly-developed measure of body appreciation. Participants were 457 women and 417 men from a university in Hong Kong. The results of exploratory factor analyses showed that, like its English version, the Chinese BAS-2 had a one-dimensional structure. Body appreciation scores had good internal consistency and were also significantly associated with respondent body mass index, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and (in women) actual-ideal weight discrepancy. Men had significantly higher scores than women, while comparisons with data fromTylka and Wood-Barcalow (2015b) suggest that cross-cultural differences are small-to-moderate at best. The present findings suggest that the BAS-2 may prove to be a useful tool for the assessment of body appreciation across cultures.