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Assessing Discomfort and Avoidance of Social Situations Due to Weight and Physical Appearance in Adolescents: An Exploratory Factor Analysis of a New Measure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

M. Cunha ,
A.R. Costa ,
L. Palmeira ,
M. Couto  and
A. Galhardo
M. Cunha*
Affiliation:
Miguel Torga Institute/CINEICC, Clinical Psychology, Coimbra, Portugal
A.R. Costa
Affiliation:
Miguel Torga Institute, Clinical Psychology, Coimbra, Portugal
L. Palmeira
Affiliation:
FPCE University of Coimbra, CINEICC, Coimbra, Portugal
M. Couto
Affiliation:
Miguel Torga Institute, Clinical Psychology, Coimbra, Portugal
A. Galhardo
Affiliation:
Miguel Torga Institute/CINEICC, Clinical Psychology, Coimbra, Portugal
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

In adolescence experiencing weight and physical appearance concerns is common. These body and weigh-related preoccupations are associated with anxiety and may lead adolescents to avoid social situations where their body image is exposed.

Aim

The present study aimed to conduct an exploratory factor analysis and explore the psychometric properties of a new measure of social situations discomfort and avoidance due to weight or physical appearance (DASSWPA) in a sample of adolescents.

Methods

The sample comprised 357 adolescents aged between 12 and 18-years-old, 195 males and 162 females, with a mean age of 14.69 (SD = 1.68). Participants completed a set of self-reported questionnaires concerning anxiety, stress and depression symptoms (DASS-21), bullying experiences (BIVES-A) and body image related shame feelings (BISS).

Results

The DASSWPA is comprised of two separate scales: one regarding discomfort/anxiety and another one related to avoidance of social situations. Results suggested that both scales presented a similar two-factor structure. Both scales revealed good psychometric properties, including high internal consistency (α = 0.91) and an excellent temporal stability. Moreover, DASSWPA showed significant and positive associations with body image related shame feelings, victimization experiences, and anxiety, stress and depressions symptoms. Gender differences were also found, with girls presenting significantly higher levels in the anxiety/discomfort scale than boys.

Conclusion

The DASSWPA proved to be a reliable and stable measure to assess anxiety and avoidance of social situations due to one's physical appearance and weight in adolescents.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
e-Poster walk: Child and adolescent psychiatry–part 1
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 41 , Issue S1: Abstract of the 25th European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2017 , pp. S126
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2017
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