The Positive Body Image among Adolescents Scale (PBIAS): Conceptualization, development, and psychometric evaluation among adolescents from Belgium

In this study, we aimed to offer a conceptualization of positive body image during adolescence and psychometrically examine a new scale developed to measure this conceptualization. A literature review on positive body image and adolescence was conducted, which shaped the development of the Positive Body Image among Adolescents Scale (PBIAS). In Study 1, four focus groups (totaling 14 adolescents) from Belgium explored the content, clarity, and applicability of the PBIAS items. In Study 2, an exploratory factor analysis (N= 565; M-age = 14.9, 63.8 % girls) revealed 4 factors: body self-appreciation, body otherappreciation, resilience against media body ideals, and resilience against negative appearance feedback. This 4-factor structure was confirmed in Study 3 (N= 718; M-age = 15.2, 50.4 % girls), and gender invariance was upheld. The test-retest reliability of the PBIAS scores was partially supported in Study 4 (N= 309, M-age = 15.3, 66.3 % girls). Across studies, internal consistency was supported and construct validity (convergent and incremental) evidence was garnered. Further, the PBIAS was translated from Dutch to English to offer researchers an option for collecting data in English-speaking countries. Overall, the PBIAS is a brief measure with psychometric support that assesses four dimensions of adolescent positive body image. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.