Body Image Assessment Software: psychometric data

Behav Res Methods. 2008 May;40(2):394-407. doi: 10.3758/brm.40.2.394.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze the psychometric characteristics of the Body Image Assessment Software (BIAS), an innovative interactive computer program developed to assess body image disturbances. The program was tested on 252 psychology students at the University of Barcelona and 51 patients with an eating disorder (ED). The subjects filled in the Eating Attitudes Test-26, the Body Shape Questionnaire, the body dissatisfaction scale of the Eating Disorders Inventory-2, and the Body Image Assessment-Revised (a test of silhouettes). Results showed good validity and very high reliability. Furthermore, BIAS was able to discriminate between people who were at risk of an ED and those who were not, as well as between people with and without a history of an ED. Those at risk of having an ED and those with a current ED showed more body image distortion (overestimation of body size) and higher levels of body image dissatisfaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anorexia Nervosa / diagnosis
  • Anorexia Nervosa / psychology
  • Body Image*
  • Bulimia Nervosa / diagnosis
  • Bulimia Nervosa / psychology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / diagnosis
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Psychometrics / methods*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Self-Assessment*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Software Validation*