The development, reliability and validity of the body dissatisfaction scale

Many studies have shown that societal pressures upon women to be thin negatively affect their body image satisfaction. Women who experience negative body image have the tendency to develop eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, due to their prevailing distorted body image and extreme body dissatisfaction. Moreover, Body dissatisfaction adversely affects one\u27s self-concept and self-esteem. Such findings have prompted the researchers to develop the Body Dissatisfaction Scale (BDS). This scale consists of 48 items which is classified into five subscales namely: Weight Issues, Body Image based on Feedback, Self-Monitoring, Body Parts & Physique and Attitude Towards Food and Nutrition. Several statistical measures were executed to establish the reliability and validity of the scale. The reliability score of the scale is .94 resulting from the reliability analysis. While the validity of the BDS was established through a Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Construct-Identification Test correlation against the Young Women\u27s Experiences with Body Weight & Shape and Contrast Group Validation between the general population and eating disordered respondents. Based on the results of the data analysis the scale can be said to be a sufficient measure of body dissatisfaction