Psychometric properties of the attitudes towards body figure questionnaire in Mexican female students and patients with eating disorders

Abstract

The aim of this article was to determine the psychometric characteristics of the Attitudes Towards Body Figure Questionnaire in a sample of Mexican female students and to compare them with a sample of patients with eating disorders. A self-applicable questionnaire with 15 questions on the importance of one's weight, and figure was given to a sample of students with an average age of 18 years in Mexico City (N = 408) and a sample of patients under treatment (N = 87). The results showed adequate values of internal consistency and a factorial structure in two highly correlated factors that was corroborated in a confirmatory factorial analysis. The questionnaire yielded data with adequate concurrent and predictive validity as well as appropriate values of sensitivity and specificity. This questionnaire constitutes a significant contribution to the field of research on eating disorders and body image in adolescents in Mexico that is why its use is recommended for research and prevention work in the area. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.