Development of the body checking questionnaire: a self-report measure of body checking behaviors.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to develop a brief self-report inventory to assess body checking behaviors.


METHODS
Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, the 23-item Body Checking Questionnaire (BCQ) was developed. The BCQ measures the global construct of body checking behaviors with three correlated subfactors that assess checking related to overall appearance, checking of specific body parts, and idiosyncratic checking rituals.


RESULTS
The BCQ was found to have good test-retest reliability (.94) and the subfactors had good internal consistency (.88, .92, and .83). The measure correlated highly with other measures of negative body image and eating disorders, demonstrating its concurrent validity. Additionally, the BCQ was found to differentiate normal controls and eating disorder patients, as well as nonclinical participants scoring high and low on a measure of concern with body size and dieting.


CONCLUSIONS
Due to the potential role of ritualistic body checking in the maintenance of body dissatisfaction by directing excessive attention to body shape/weight, the BCQ may prove to be a useful clinical tool in the assessment and treatment of eating disorder patients.
Reas
Deborah L
DL
Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Whisenhunt
Brooke L
BL
Netemeyer
Rick
R
Williamson
Donald A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results