Validation of the Chinese Version of the Body Image Concern Inventory

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychometrics
• Cross-cultural adaptation

Background:

• The Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI) is established for assessing dysmorphic appearance concern in Western populations.
• Adaptation and validation are necessary for its use in diverse cultural contexts, such as China.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of a new Chinese version of the BICI.
• To establish the reliability and validity of the Chinese BICI in a Chinese population.

Main Methods:

• Study 1: Administered the Chinese BICI to 1,231 Chinese young adults to assess reliability (Cronbach's alpha = .92, test-retest = .73) and factor structure.
• Confirmatory factor analysis supported a 3-factor model: avoidant behaviors (AB), safety behaviors (SB), and negative appearance evaluation (NE).
• Study 2: Compared BICI scores between 47 female eating disorder (ED) patients and 56 matched controls.

Main Results:

• The Chinese BICI demonstrated good internal consistency and test-retest reliability.
• The 3-factor model (AB, SB, NE) was confirmed.
• ED patients scored significantly higher on the BICI total and subscales than controls, with AB being the strongest differentiator (Cohen's d = 1.52).
• SB differentiated between genders (Cohen's d = 0.75), and NE correlated with negative affect and well-being.

Conclusions:

• The Chinese BICI is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing dysmorphic appearance concern among Chinese speakers.
• The findings support the cross-cultural applicability of the BICI's core constructs.
• The scale aids in identifying individuals with heightened body image concerns, particularly those with eating disorders.