Development and validation of the Physical Activity Body Experiences Questionnaire

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Body Image Research
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Embodiment, experiencing the physical body as central to lived experience, is a potential buffer against body image and eating disturbances.
• Existing measures may not fully capture the nuances of embodiment, particularly in relation to physical activity.
• A validated, reliable measure is needed to assess embodiment and its correlates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To rationally derive and validate the Physical Activity Body Experiences Questionnaire (PABEQ) as a measure of embodiment.
• To examine the psychometric properties of the PABEQ, including its factor structure and reliability.
• To investigate the relationship between embodiment (as measured by PABEQ) and related constructs like body image, self-objectification, and disordered eating.

Main Methods:

• The PABEQ was developed using focus groups, literature reviews, and expert input.
• Two samples of female undergraduates (N=606) and a test-retest sample (N=58) completed the PABEQ along with measures of body image, self-objectification, and disordered eating.
• Exploratory factor analyses and reliability estimates were conducted.

Main Results:

• Exploratory factor analyses supported a two-factor structure for the PABEQ: Mind-Body Connection and Body Acceptance.
• Reliability estimates for the subscales were adequate.
• The PABEQ subscales demonstrated utility in predicting body awareness, body responsiveness, positive body image, body satisfaction, self-objectification, and disordered eating.

Conclusions:

• The PABEQ is a psychometrically sound measure for assessing embodiment in female undergraduates.
• Mind-Body Connection and Body Acceptance are key components of embodiment.
• The PABEQ can be used to further understand the protective role of embodiment against body image and eating concerns.