Translation and Validation of Multidimensional Body Self-Relation Questionnaire-Appearance Scale for Young Adults

Multidimensional Body Self-Relation Questionnaire-Appearance Scale (MBSRQ-AS; Cash, 2000) has been extensively used to study body image among adolescents and adults. Phase 1 of the present study aimed to translate and validate English version of MBSRQ-AS into Urdu language. Forward-backward translation method was used for this purpose. To establish the cross language validity, Urdu version and the original MBSRQ-AS English version were administered on bilinguals (N = 200) including an equal number of men and women with mean age of 22 years. Reliability of both versions was determined by computing test-retest techniques. Phase-II was aimed to establish the construct validity by applying Exploratory Factor Analysis on a sample of 350 college and university students including both men and women with age range of 17 to 21 years. Results showed the following four factors, that is, appearance evaluation, appearance orientation, body area satisfaction, and over-weight preoccupation as reflection of body image, indigenously. Phase-III of the research was aimed to confirm the factorial validity. The sample comprised of 500 adolescents including men and women with age range from 16 to 22 years from colleges and universities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Findings confirmed the four factor solution and suggested that MBSRQ-AS Urdu version can be used as a valid and reliable measure for the assessment of body image of young adults.