The Body Appreciation Scale-2: Item interpretation and sensitivity to priming

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Body Image Research

Background:

• The Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) is frequently used to assess positive body image.
• Its items are intentionally ambiguous, allowing for diverse interpretations of body aspects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how BAS-2 items are interpreted and if preceding measures influence these interpretations.
• To determine if prior measures affect BAS-2 scores or their correlation with body dissatisfaction.
• To explore the relationship between item interpretation, total scores, and investment in appearance for aesthetic reasons.

Main Methods:

• 392 Canadian female undergraduates completed priming questionnaires, followed by the BAS-2.
• Participants then detailed their interpretation of each BAS-2 item.
• Analysis examined priming effects on interpretation, scores, and correlations.

Main Results:

• Most BAS-2 items were interpreted in terms of physical appearance.
• Priming questionnaires did not influence item interpretation, BAS-2 scores, or the correlation with body dissatisfaction.
• BAS-2 scores were highest with moderate appearance-based interpretations and negatively correlated with aesthetic appearance investment.

Conclusions:

• The BAS-2 demonstrates resilience to priming effects in this sample.
• Among young Western women, BAS-2 items are predominantly understood through an appearance-focused lens.
• Interpretation of BAS-2 items is linked to body satisfaction and aesthetic investment.