Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Body-self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) in Female Iranian University Students

Body image is a complex and multifaceted construct encompassing at least perceptual, affective, cognitive, and possibly behavioral aspects of body experience. In the current Iranian society, increasingly the major focus is on the body’s appearance, in particular on body shape and weight. Current societal standards for female beauty excessively emphasize the desirability of thinness; an ideal accepted by most females, but impossible for most of them to achieve. These body image concerns can be measured using Multidimensional BodySelf Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ-AS). The present study aimed at testing the factorial structure and determining the psychometric properties of the MBSRQ in female Iranian university students.

The MBSRQ-AS was administered to 496 participants aged 16 to 39 selected using multistage cluster sampling method among the female students of Tehran University from 70 fields of study.

Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine the construct validity of the questionnaire. Principal component analysis using Varimax rotations resulted in a five-factor structure (KMO=0.56, Chi-square=5419.80, df=561) including: appearance orientation, appearance evaluation, overweight preoccupation, self-classified weight and body areas satisfaction. confirmatory factor analysis showed that the extracted model had a good fit to the data (RMSEA =0.064, NFI =0.88, CFI =0.91). Reliability analysis of total score of MBSRQAS and its subscales suggested good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for total scale=0.83).

In conclusion, the results of the current study provided strong evidence for reliability and validity of MBSRQ-AS as a multidimensional tool to measure body image among Iranian students.