Development and validation of instruments measuring body image and body weight dissatisfaction in South African mothers and their daughters

• Published in: Public health nutrition Vol. 8; no. 5; pp. 509 - 519
• Main Authors: Mciza, Zandile, Goedecke, Julia H, Steyn, Nelia P, Charlton, Karen, Puoane, Thandi, Meltzer, Shelly, Levitt, Naomi S, Lambert, Estelle V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.08.2005
• Subjects: Adult; African Americans; anthropometric measurements; Black people; Black women; Blacks; Body Constitution - physiology; Body Image; Body Mass Index; Body size; Body weight; Body Weight - physiology; Child; Children; Cultural differences; daughters; Ethnicity; Female; Gallbladder diseases; girls; health beliefs; Health sciences; Humans; Measuring instruments; Minority & ethnic groups; Mother-Child Relations; mothers; Obesity; Overweight; perceptions (cognitive); Personal Satisfaction; Personality Inventory; Public health; questionnaires; Self Concept; Self image; Sexual Maturation; South Africa; Surveys and Questionnaires - standards; validity; White people; Whites; Womens health; South Africa; Obesity; Ethnicity; Children; Body image; Black women; Overweight
• ISSN: 1368-9800; 1475-2727
• DOI: 10.1079/PHN2005814

We sought to validate questionnaires concerning body image perception, body size dissatisfaction and weight-related beliefs in multi-ethnic South African mothers and their daughters. Girls attending primary school (ages 9-12 years, n = 333) and their mothers (n = 204) were interviewed regarding their demographics and body image. Weight, height and skinfold thicknesses were measured. Body image questions and body mass index (BMI) were compared with silhouettes adapted from the Pathways Study for girls and Stunkard's body image figures for mothers. A Feel-Ideal Difference (FID) index score was created by subtracting the score of the silhouette selected by the participants as 'Ideal' from the one selected as most closely representing their current appearance or 'Feel'. We hypothesised that a higher FID index score would be associated with greater body size dissatisfaction. BMI percentiles in girls (r = 0.46, P < 0.05) and BMI in mothers (r = 0.68, P < 0.05) were positively correlated with the selected silhouettes based on size. Participants who reported feelings of being 'fat' and those who perceived that their family and friends were more dissatisfied with their body size had significantly higher FID index scores. Scores were lower in black than white girls (all P<0.05). No differences were found in FID index scores between ethnic groups of mothers. Internal reliability of the 'thin' and 'fat' belief constructs for girls was demonstrated by standardised Cronbach's alpha values > or = 0.7. Silhouettes, FID index, 'fat' and 'thin' belief constructs (in girls) are age-appropriate, culturally sensitive and can be used in further intervention studies to understand body image.