Applicability of the Ben-Tovim Walker Body Attitude Questionnaire in Moslem women

Abstract

There are some valuable questionnaires to assess the body attitude but applicability of those in Moslem women is unknown and the aim of this study was assessment of the validity and reliability of the Iranian-translated versions of the Ben-Tovim Walker Body Attitudes Questionnaire (BAQ) in Iranian women. The BAQ 44 item was administered to 304 healthy non-pregnant Iranian women. A confirmatory factor analysis was carried out. The internal consistency reliability and Inter-correlations of the BAQ subscales and concurrent validity were assessed. The results showed that 9 out of 44 items had insignificant regression weights on the respective factors that further were nominated to deletion. The 6-factor model has an acceptable fit with the data. The internal consistency was .91 for all scale of 35-item BAQ. The coefficient of repeatability (ICC) respectively were .78, .77, .89, .94, .86 and .79 for attractiveness, disparagement, feeling fat, salience of weight/shape, lower body fat and strength and fitness. Results showed that the 6-factor model the 35-item questionnaire is appropriate for evaluating body attitude in Moslem women.