Psychometric Properties and Cutoff Points of the Body Dissatisfaction Scale in an Iranian Adolescent Population

Authors
zahra Ghoddousi
Azadi
Fatemeh Nemati Sogolitappeh
Abstract
This study aimed to validate the Body Dissatisfaction Scale (BDS) and evaluate its validity, reliability, and diagnostic accuracy among Iranian adolescents across BMI categories. A total of 281 adolescents (mean age = 15.94 ± 1.80 years; 61% girls) completed the BDS, the Body Image Concern Inventory, the short form of the Emotional Eating Scale for Children, and provided their Body Mass Index (BMI). The findings indicated that the BDS demonstrated satisfactory convergent validity, as scores were positively correlated with the BICI and its subscales. Concurrent validity was supported by the significant relationship between the BDS and EES-C among girls. Known-groups validity was supported, as PAB scores increased with higher BMI, showing significant differences between weight categories. ROC analysis revealed that PAB had acceptable accuracy in distinguishing underweight and good-to-excellent accuracy for overweight/obesity. Cutoff points were ≤ 3 for underweight in girls, ≤ 4 in boys, and ≥ 6 for overweight/obesity. Test–retest reliability was excellent among girls and good among boys. Overall, the findings confirmed that the BDS is a valid, reliable, and efficient tool for assessing body dissatisfaction among Iranian adolescents and can serve as a useful screening measure when direct measurement of height and weight is not feasible.
Keywords
Body dissatisfaction
Validation
figure rating scale
body mass index
adolescents
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