title: Gender-based differential item functioning in common measures of body dissatisfaction.
abstract: Many widely used measures of body image were developed using all-female samples and thus may not adequately capture the male experience of body dissatisfaction. The current study examined differential item functioning (DIF) in three commonly-used measures of body image: The Body Shape Questionnaire (N=590, 39.7% male), the Body Dissatisfaction subscale of the Eating Disorders Inventory (N=529, 44.6% male), and the Shape and Weight Concern subscales of the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (N=1116, 43.5% male). Participants completed a series of measures evaluating body image and eating pathology. Results evidenced statistically significant DIF in several of the items; one item met criteria for clinically significant DIF. While most items did not evidence clinically elevated levels of DIF, additional evaluation is necessary in order to determine overall quality of the measures in terms of capturing the experience of male body image concerns.
authors: Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States. Electronic address: eereilly@albany.edu.
authors: Erin E
authors: EE
authors: Reilly
authors: Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States. Electronic address: lmanderson@albany.edu.
authors: Lisa M
authors: LM
authors: Anderson
authors: Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States. Electronic address: Katherine.schaumberg@gmail.com.
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Schaumberg
authors: Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, United States. Electronic address: drewa@albany.edu.
authors: Drew A
authors: DA
authors: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011594:Psychometrics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body dissatisfaction; Body image; Differential item functioning