Psychometric development of a new body image scale for breast cancer survivors

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to psychometrically test a body image scale for breast cancer survivors (BCS). Data (n = 1127 BCSs) were obtained via telephone and mailed questionnaires. Psychometric testing was conducted using Cronbach’s alpha, item-total correlations, factor analysis, linear regression, and Pearson’s correlations. Data demonstrated a unidimensional seven-item scale with Cronbach’s alpha = 0.88 and item-total correlations ranging from 0.367 to 0.829. Construct validity was demonstrated with 48% of the variance in well-being explained by constructs in the conceptual model [F(14,784) = 48.35, p < .001]. The body image scale demonstrated high internal consistency reliability, unidimensionality, and construct validity.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was coordinated by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (Robert L. Comis, MD and Mitchell D. Schnall, MD, PhD, Group Co-Chairs) and supported in part by Public Health Service Grants CA189828, CA180795, CA37403, CA35199, CA17145, and CA49883, and from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute. Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers T32 CA117865 and K05CA175048 and the American Cancer Society Graduate Scholarship in Nursing Practice, GSCNP-17-120-01. Its content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health, including the National Cancer Institute or the American Cancer Society.