An examination of the factor structure and preliminary assessment of the psychometric properties of a Hebrew translation of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2). (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Geller, Shulamit; Handelzalts, Jonathan E.; Levy, Sigal; Boxer, Nofar; Todd, Jennifer; Swami, Viren
• Is Part Of: Body image. Volume 34(2020)
• Page Start: 145
• Page End: 154
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Body appreciation -- Positive body image -- Test adaptation -- Psychometrics -- Israel; Body image -- Periodicals; Body image -- Research -- Periodicals; Body Image -- Periodicals; 306.4613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.05.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-1445

Abstract

Highlights: The Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) was translated into Hebrew. Hebrew BAS-2 scores reduce to a single dimension in women and men. Hebrew BAS-2 scores were invariant across sex, with men having higher scores than women. Hebrew BAS-2 scores have adequate reliability and good patterns of construct validity. Abstract: The Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) is a widely-used, 10-item measure of a core facet of positive body image. To extend its use internationally, we examined the factor structure and conducted a preliminary assessment of the psychometric properties of a novel Hebrew translation of the BAS-2. A sample of 613 Israeli adults (362 women, 251 men; age M = 29.52, SD = 9.47) completed the BAS-2 alongside demographic items and previously-validated measures of life satisfaction, self-esteem, self-compassion, and body investment. Exploratory factor analyses with a semi-random split-half subsample ( n = 377) indicated that BAS-2 scores reduced to a single dimension with all 10 items. This factor structure was equivalent across women and men. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with a second split-half subsample ( n = 235) showed the 1-dimensional factor structure had adequate fit following one modification and multi-group CFA showed that the model was invariant across sex. Men had significantly higher BAS-2 scores than women, but the effect size was small ( d = 0.22). Evidence of construct validity was demonstrated through positive associations with indices of life satisfaction, self-esteem, self-compassion, and body investment. The availability of a validated BAS-2 Hebrew translation should advance future research of body appreciation in Israel.