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Related Concept Videos

Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
Self-Esteem01:28

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Self-esteem, a core aspect of psychological well-being, reflects an individual's positive and negative self-evaluation in terms of worth, competence, and overall value. It is both a stable trait and a dynamic process, influenced by experiences and social interactions across the lifespan. While global self-esteem offers a general assessment, research highlights that self-esteem is multidimensional and varies across specific life domains.Domain-Specific Self-EsteemResearchers have delineated...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
07:40

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

Measuring weight self-stigma: the weight self-stigma questionnaire.

Jason Lillis1, Jason B Luoma, Michael E Levin

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA. jasonlillis22@gmail.com

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|October 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) to measure weight stigma in overweight and obese individuals. The WSSQ is a reliable and valid tool for assessing self-devaluation and fear of enacted stigma.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Sociology

Background:

  • Weight stigma is a pervasive issue affecting individuals who are overweight or obese.
  • Effective interventions are needed to mitigate the impact of weight stigma on life functioning.
  • Validated measurement tools are essential for guiding and evaluating stigma reduction interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce and validate the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ).
  • To provide a reliable and valid measure for assessing weight self-stigma in overweight and obese populations.
  • To support research and interventions aimed at reducing weight stigma.

Main Methods:

  • Development of the 12-item Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ).
  • Validation of the WSSQ using two samples of overweight or obese participants (N = 169): one treatment-seeking and one non-treatment-seeking.
  • Assessment of the questionnaire's reliability and validity.

Main Results:

  • The WSSQ demonstrated good reliability and validity in the studied populations.
  • The questionnaire consists of two distinct subscales: self-devaluation and fear of enacted stigma.
  • The WSSQ effectively measures weight self-stigma.

Conclusions:

  • The Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) is a psychometrically sound instrument.
  • The WSSQ can be utilized to identify individuals who may benefit from stigma reduction interventions.
  • The WSSQ can aid in the evaluation of programs designed to reduce weight stigma.