Validation and psychometric properties of the Spanish Curvy Ideal Internalization scale (CII-S) in Colombian women

The curvy appearance ideal has become increasingly promoted in recent years, particularly among women from Black and Latin American backgrounds. Having a reliable measure of how women endorse and internalise such appearance ideals is essential for supporting culturally appropriate research in Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. This study presents the translation and validation of the Spanish Curvy Ideal Internalization scale (CII; Walker et al., 2022). The scale was translated, culturally adapted, and validated in a sample of Colombian women (N = 505, M_age = 21.48, SD = 2.96). Factor structure was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM). We further assessed composite reliability (McDonald's ω) and validity (thin, athletic internalization and pressure from family, peers and the media, body esteem, and eating disorder symptoms), test-retest reliability (using intra-class correlation coefficient ICC) and measurement invariance across low, middle and high socioeconomic status (SES). EFA, CFA and ESEM showed good fit indices that supported a 2-factor structure with the two subscales curvy and breast size after the removal of two items, with highest fit indices for ESEM. The scale showed excellent composite reliability, validity and test-retest reliability, as well as invariance across SES groups. The 9-item Spanish Curvy Ideal Internalization scale is a psychometrically sound measure to be used in Colombian women.