The BIAS-VR. Assessing body image disturbance using a virtual reality software. Preliminary results

Aim: The current study presents initial data on the psychometric properties of a new Virtual Reality (VR)-based body image assessment software (BIAS-VR). Body image distortion and body image dissatisfaction were assessed in two different conditions: perceived and ideal body size were evaluated a) when participants were embodied in a virtual body, and b) when participants saw the virtual body in front of them. Method: 26 female college students participated in the study. Before starting the VR-assessment tasks, body image distortion and body image dissatisfaction were measured using a paper-based silhouette test. Body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness and body anxiety were also assessed using questionnaires, and actual body mass index (BMI) was measured. Then, participants were randomly exposed to both assessment conditions in a counterbalanced order. Participants' body dissatisfaction (the discrepancy between perceived and ideal BMI) and body distortion (the discrepancy between perceived and actual BMI) were calculated in each condition. Results: Paired-sample t-test showed no significant differences (p>.05) between conditions when assessing either body distortion or body dissatisfaction. Pearson correlations showed significant, moderate and large positive and negative correlations (p<.05) between the BIAS-VR and the other body image-related questionnaires. Conclusion: BIAS-VR shows good convergent validity and may be an adequate tool for the assessment of body image disturbance. However, further research into the influence of BMI and the role of embodiment techniques is required