Validating a Chinese version of the Weight Self-stigma Questionnaire for use with obese adults

Although weight-based stigmatization is pervasive in everyday life, a suitable measure of weight self-stigma is currently unavailable for the obese Chinese population.

The purpose of this study was to translate and test the psychometric properties of the Weight Self-stigma Questionnaire into Chinese (C-WSSQ) for use with obese Chinese people.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 156 overweight or obese adults. The data were collected from September to December 2015. Data on the body mass index, C-WSSQ, and Multidimensional Body Self-relation Questionnaire were used.

The reproducibility and Cronbach a of the C-WSSQ were .892 and .880, respectively, indicating acceptable reliability. The exploratory factor analysis revealed that 2 extracted factors identified to the domain structures of the C-WSSQ, as explained by the 67.05% total variance. The C-WSSQ also demonstrated that the 2-factor model, self-devaluation, and fear of enacted stigma fit the data on the basis of confirmatory factor analysis. Meanwhile, the C-WSSQ was correlated with body mass index and Multidimensional Body Self-relation Questionnaire, indicating an acceptable criterion-related validity.

The C-WSSQ shows adequate reliability and validity. The health professionals can use the C-WSSQ to assess weight self-stigma of obese Chinese adults before and after intervention of a weight-loss program.