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Body-esteem scale for adolescents and adults.
B K Mendelson1, M J Mendelson, D R White
1Department of Psychology, Concordia University. mmendelson@psych.mcgill.ca
Journal of Personality Assessment
|February 24, 2001
Summary
This study introduces a new body esteem (BE) questionnaire for adolescents and adults, finding that appearance and weight satisfaction are key factors influencing self-esteem, particularly in females.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Body Image Research
- Adolescent and Adult Psychology
Background:
- Body esteem (BE) involves self-evaluation of one's body and appearance.
- Understanding body esteem is crucial for mental well-being in adolescents and adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate a new Body Esteem questionnaire.
- To examine the subscales of appearance, weight satisfaction, and attribution in relation to self-esteem and demographics.
Main Methods:
- Development of a Body Esteem (BE) questionnaire with three subscales: BE-Appearance, BE-Weight, and BE-Attribution.
- Assessment of internal consistency and 3-month test-retest reliability.
- Analysis of gender differences and correlations with weight and other self-esteem measures.
Main Results:
- The BE questionnaire demonstrated high internal consistency and reliability.
- Females reported lower BE-Appearance and BE-Weight than males.
- BE-Weight uniquely related to actual weight, especially in females; BE-Appearance consistently predicted self-esteem.
Conclusions:
- The new BE questionnaire is a reliable tool for assessing body esteem in adolescents and adults.
- Body appearance and weight satisfaction significantly impact overall self-esteem, with notable gender differences.
- Attributional components of body esteem relate differently to social self-esteem compared to appearance and weight components.