Not uni-dimension! Exploring the multi-dimensional concept of positive body image in the Chinese context

ObjectivesPast researchers often used single measurement to explore the overall level of positive body image, which caused much misunderstanding of positive body image. With a positive psychology perspective, and based on the holistic positive body image theory, this study explored the multi-dimensi...

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Main Author: Hanqin Yan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1494172/full
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author Hanqin Yan
author_facet Hanqin Yan
author_sort Hanqin Yan
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivesPast researchers often used single measurement to explore the overall level of positive body image, which caused much misunderstanding of positive body image. With a positive psychology perspective, and based on the holistic positive body image theory, this study explored the multi-dimensional concept of positive body image in the Chinese context, integrated its three measures, examined the overall level of positive body image among Chinese college students, and tested the gender measurement invariance, as well as explored the latent categories of positive body image in the college student population.MethodsA convenience sampling method was used to survey 670 college students in China, using the Chinese version of Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS), Body Image Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-5 (BI-AAQ-5), and the Positive Body Talk Scale (PBTS). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to validate the three dimensions of positive body image, and a measurement invariance test was used to figure out the measurement invariance of the three scales on the gender variable, lastly, latent profile analysis was used to explore the latent categories of positive body image among Chinese college students.Results(1) Three measures of positive body image were able to measure Chinese college students' overall positive body image well, and had good measurement invariance on the variable of gender; (2) Chinese college students' positive body image could be divided into three potential categories, namely, “low-level of positive body image” (32.2%), “general-level positive body image” (40.4%), and “high-level positive body image” (27.4%); (3) positive body talk can significantly and positively predict the overall positive body image of Chinese college students.ConclusionWe conclude that the three measures of positive body image are valid and versatile to Chinese college students and have high relevance with positive body talk, we also validate the multidimensional concept of positive body image in the Chinese context and hope to lead future Chinese researchers for better understanding the multi-dimensional concept of positive body image, and use the three measures to measure the holistic positive body image. We reveal and identify three latent categories of positive body image to effectively promote the healthy development of Chinese college students' macro-ecosystem.
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spelling doaj-art-c7305bbe20cc487ea213a4cfbc77ce5e2025-01-21T17:33:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-01-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14941721494172Not uni-dimension! Exploring the multi-dimensional concept of positive body image in the Chinese contextHanqin YanObjectivesPast researchers often used single measurement to explore the overall level of positive body image, which caused much misunderstanding of positive body image. With a positive psychology perspective, and based on the holistic positive body image theory, this study explored the multi-dimensional concept of positive body image in the Chinese context, integrated its three measures, examined the overall level of positive body image among Chinese college students, and tested the gender measurement invariance, as well as explored the latent categories of positive body image in the college student population.MethodsA convenience sampling method was used to survey 670 college students in China, using the Chinese version of Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2), Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS), Body Image Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-5 (BI-AAQ-5), and the Positive Body Talk Scale (PBTS). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to validate the three dimensions of positive body image, and a measurement invariance test was used to figure out the measurement invariance of the three scales on the gender variable, lastly, latent profile analysis was used to explore the latent categories of positive body image among Chinese college students.Results(1) Three measures of positive body image were able to measure Chinese college students' overall positive body image well, and had good measurement invariance on the variable of gender; (2) Chinese college students' positive body image could be divided into three potential categories, namely, “low-level of positive body image” (32.2%), “general-level positive body image” (40.4%), and “high-level positive body image” (27.4%); (3) positive body talk can significantly and positively predict the overall positive body image of Chinese college students.ConclusionWe conclude that the three measures of positive body image are valid and versatile to Chinese college students and have high relevance with positive body talk, we also validate the multidimensional concept of positive body image in the Chinese context and hope to lead future Chinese researchers for better understanding the multi-dimensional concept of positive body image, and use the three measures to measure the holistic positive body image. We reveal and identify three latent categories of positive body image to effectively promote the healthy development of Chinese college students' macro-ecosystem.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1494172/fullChinese college studentspositive body imagemeasurement invariancelatent profile analysisvalidation
spellingShingle Hanqin Yan
Not uni-dimension! Exploring the multi-dimensional concept of positive body image in the Chinese context
Frontiers in Psychology
Chinese college students
positive body image
measurement invariance
latent profile analysis
validation
title Not uni-dimension! Exploring the multi-dimensional concept of positive body image in the Chinese context
title_full Not uni-dimension! Exploring the multi-dimensional concept of positive body image in the Chinese context
title_fullStr Not uni-dimension! Exploring the multi-dimensional concept of positive body image in the Chinese context
title_full_unstemmed Not uni-dimension! Exploring the multi-dimensional concept of positive body image in the Chinese context
title_short Not uni-dimension! Exploring the multi-dimensional concept of positive body image in the Chinese context
title_sort not uni dimension exploring the multi dimensional concept of positive body image in the chinese context
topic Chinese college students
positive body image
measurement invariance
latent profile analysis
validation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1494172/full
work_keys_str_mv AT hanqinyan notunidimensionexploringthemultidimensionalconceptofpositivebodyimageinthechinesecontext