Validation of the Norwegian short version of the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-14)

Abstract

Background: The Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) is a widely used self-report measure of body shape dissatisfaction. Aims: We aimed to establish psychometric properties and report normative data for the Norwegian 14-item BSQ in a clinical and non-clinical sample. Methods: A total of 423 female students, 267 male students and 49 female inpatients [anorexia nervosa (AN) and subthreshold AN] were administered the BSQ, the Body Checking Questionnaire (BCQ), and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Results: On average, the male and female controls were aged (mean± standard deviation) 20.98 ± 5.68 years and 24.35 ± 9.89 years with mean body mass indexes (BMIs) of 23.34 ± 3.13 and 22.30 ± 3.62 kg/m², respectively. Patients were 19.04 ± 3.06 years with a mean BMI of 16.48 ± 1.81. Divergent validity was indicated by significantly (P < 0.001) different means between the patient group versus female controls, 56.80 ± 18.89 and 35.89 ± 15.19, respectively. Cronbach's alpha was satisfactory for all three groups (0.91–0.96), indicating excellent internal consistency. The BSQ correlated significantly (P < 0.001) with the BCQ and EDE-Q, indicating concurrent validity. BMI and BSQ scores did not correlate significantly within the population as a whole. However, when subdividing the sample, higher BMI was associated with higher BSQ scores among females and males within the non-clinical sample. Conclusions: Our study provides psychometric support for the Norwegian version of the BSQ-14 among a clinical and non-clinical sample of both young men and women.

• Body Shape Questionnaire
• Norms
• Psychometric properties
• Validation

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Regional Department for Eating Disorder at Oslo University Hospital, Norway. We thank Deborah L. Reas, Ph.D., for her valuable comments on the manuscript.

Disclosure of interest: All other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.