Validation of two body scales for assessment of thin-ideal and muscularity-ideal body dissatisfaction among Chinese adult females

Abstract Background Previous studies have demonstrated the significant impact of body dissatisfaction on the physical and mental well-being of women. China’s culture idealizes thinness and beauty, and women are more prone to experiencing body dissatisfaction. However, research on women’s body dissat...

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Main Authors: Guangbo Dou, Jiahao Wu, Siyao Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22546-1
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author Guangbo Dou
Jiahao Wu
Siyao Sun
author_facet Guangbo Dou
Jiahao Wu
Siyao Sun
author_sort Guangbo Dou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Previous studies have demonstrated the significant impact of body dissatisfaction on the physical and mental well-being of women. China’s culture idealizes thinness and beauty, and women are more prone to experiencing body dissatisfaction. However, research on women’s body dissatisfaction has predominantly focused on Western societies, with limited investigations conducted in China. Meanwhile, there exists a dearth of specific measurement tools for assessing Chinese adult women’s body dissatisfaction. Therefore, the work aimed to assess the reliability of the Female Body Scale (FBS) and the Female Fit Body Scale (FFITBS) among Chinese adult women. Methods A total of 1,340 Chinese adult women selected body figures that most accurately represented their current and ideal bodies through the FBS and the FFITBS. Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire 6.0 (EDE-Q6.0) and Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS) were completed. Re-test was conducted four to 3–4 weeks later to complete the FBS and the FFITBS again. Results The validity and reliability of the FBS and the FFITBS have been demonstrated in Chinese adult women. A majority of women expressed a desire for a smaller body, which encompassed muscularity and adiposity dimensions. There was a significant correlation between body dissatisfaction scores and eating disorder scores among Chinese adult women. Additionally, the body dissatisfaction scores obtained from the FFITBS significantly predicted the DMS scores. Furthermore, among Chinese adult women, only the heterosexual and bisexual groups show differences in muscularity-dimension body dissatisfaction, while no significant differences are found among the other groups. Conclusions The findings suggested that the FBS and the FFITBS could be valuable scientific tools for evaluating body dissatisfaction among Chinese adult women.
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spelling doaj-art-acbff54d7caa4524913eaa7fdfd083972025-08-20T03:53:32ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-04-0125111110.1186/s12889-025-22546-1Validation of two body scales for assessment of thin-ideal and muscularity-ideal body dissatisfaction among Chinese adult femalesGuangbo Dou0Jiahao Wu1Siyao Sun2College of Exercise and Health, Shenyang Sport UniversityCollege of Exercise and Health, Shenyang Sport UniversityCollege of Exercise and Health, Shenyang Sport UniversityAbstract Background Previous studies have demonstrated the significant impact of body dissatisfaction on the physical and mental well-being of women. China’s culture idealizes thinness and beauty, and women are more prone to experiencing body dissatisfaction. However, research on women’s body dissatisfaction has predominantly focused on Western societies, with limited investigations conducted in China. Meanwhile, there exists a dearth of specific measurement tools for assessing Chinese adult women’s body dissatisfaction. Therefore, the work aimed to assess the reliability of the Female Body Scale (FBS) and the Female Fit Body Scale (FFITBS) among Chinese adult women. Methods A total of 1,340 Chinese adult women selected body figures that most accurately represented their current and ideal bodies through the FBS and the FFITBS. Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire 6.0 (EDE-Q6.0) and Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS) were completed. Re-test was conducted four to 3–4 weeks later to complete the FBS and the FFITBS again. Results The validity and reliability of the FBS and the FFITBS have been demonstrated in Chinese adult women. A majority of women expressed a desire for a smaller body, which encompassed muscularity and adiposity dimensions. There was a significant correlation between body dissatisfaction scores and eating disorder scores among Chinese adult women. Additionally, the body dissatisfaction scores obtained from the FFITBS significantly predicted the DMS scores. Furthermore, among Chinese adult women, only the heterosexual and bisexual groups show differences in muscularity-dimension body dissatisfaction, while no significant differences are found among the other groups. Conclusions The findings suggested that the FBS and the FFITBS could be valuable scientific tools for evaluating body dissatisfaction among Chinese adult women.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22546-1Body dissatisfactionEating disordersDrive for muscularityThin-idealMuscularity-idealThin-muscularity-ideal
spellingShingle Guangbo Dou
Jiahao Wu
Siyao Sun
Validation of two body scales for assessment of thin-ideal and muscularity-ideal body dissatisfaction among Chinese adult females
BMC Public Health
Body dissatisfaction
Eating disorders
Drive for muscularity
Thin-ideal
Muscularity-ideal
Thin-muscularity-ideal
title Validation of two body scales for assessment of thin-ideal and muscularity-ideal body dissatisfaction among Chinese adult females
title_full Validation of two body scales for assessment of thin-ideal and muscularity-ideal body dissatisfaction among Chinese adult females
title_fullStr Validation of two body scales for assessment of thin-ideal and muscularity-ideal body dissatisfaction among Chinese adult females
title_full_unstemmed Validation of two body scales for assessment of thin-ideal and muscularity-ideal body dissatisfaction among Chinese adult females
title_short Validation of two body scales for assessment of thin-ideal and muscularity-ideal body dissatisfaction among Chinese adult females
title_sort validation of two body scales for assessment of thin ideal and muscularity ideal body dissatisfaction among chinese adult females
topic Body dissatisfaction
Eating disorders
Drive for muscularity
Thin-ideal
Muscularity-ideal
Thin-muscularity-ideal
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22546-1
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