Abstract

The current study conceptualized body image instability as a maladaptive tendency to vacillate between different self-perceptions of one’s overall body image and developed a corresponding measure to assess body image instability. Results from a series of studies of young adult women demonstrated the validity, reliability, and utility of the Vacillating Body Image Scale (VBIS) as a meaningful measure of body image instability. In Study 1, we found that body image instability, as assessed by the VBIS, represents a unidimensional and reliable construct. In Study 2, we found evidence for both the convergent and discriminant validity of the VBIS in relation to other individual differences measures (i.e., self-concept schema, broad personality factors). In Study 3, the concurrent criterion validity of the VBIS was supported for young adult women in relation to a range of adjustment measures. Finally, in Study 4, we found consistent evidence for the incremental validity of the VBIS in predicting subsequent variations in eating disturbances, even after controlling for global self-esteem and self-concept instability. Overall, our findings offer promising support for our contention that body image instability, as measured by the VBIS, represents an important construct for understanding eating-related disturbances and other health outcomes in young adult women.

摘要

目前的研究将身体形象不稳定性概念化为一种在一个人的整体身体形象的不同自我认知之间摇摆不定的适应不良倾向，并制定了相应的措施来评估身体形象的不稳定性。对年轻成年女性的一系列研究结果证明了摇摆身体形象量表 (VBIS) 作为身体形象不稳定的有意义测量的有效性、可靠性和实用性。在研究 1 中，我们发现由 VBIS 评估的身体意象不稳定性代表了一个一维且可靠的结构。在研究 2 中，我们发现了 VBIS 与其他个体差异测量（即自我概念图式、广泛人格因素）相关的收敛和区分有效性的证据。在研究 3 中，与一系列调整措施相关的年轻成年女性支持 VBIS 的并行标准有效性。最后，在研究 4 中，我们发现一致的证据表明 VBIS 在预测饮食障碍的后续变化方面具有增量有效性，即使在控制了整体自尊和自我概念不稳定性之后也是如此。总体而言，我们的研究结果为我们的论点提供了有希望的支持，即由 VBIS 测量的身体形象不稳定代表了理解年轻成年女性与饮食相关的障碍和其他健康结果的重要结构。即使在控制了整体自尊和自我概念不稳定性之后。总体而言，我们的研究结果为我们的论点提供了有希望的支持，即由 VBIS 测量的身体形象不稳定代表了理解年轻成年女性与饮食相关的障碍和其他健康结果的重要结构。即使在控制了整体自尊和自我概念不稳定性之后。总体而言，我们的研究结果为我们的论点提供了有希望的支持，即由 VBIS 测量的身体形象不稳定代表了理解年轻成年女性与饮食相关的障碍和其他健康结果的重要结构。