Properties of the italian version of the Body Weight Image and Self-Esteem (B-WISE) in a non-clinical sample

Abstract

This study aims at assessing psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Body Weight Image and Self-Esteem (B-WISE) originally developed by Awad and Voruganti (2004) with psychiatric patients. The subjects were 1,033 non-clinical Italians with an average chronological age of 27.49 years (SD = 8.91). With regard to gender, there were 547 females and 491 males. Participants were administered self-report instruments: the B-WISE Questionnaire (Awad and Voruganti, 2004) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965). The exploratory factor analysis revealed the existence of 3 factors explaining the 48.03% of total variance. With regard to internal consistency, our study showed a not satisfactory internal consistency of B-WISE by obtaining weak values of a ranging from .43 to .45. We found significant differences on body image between males and females. Males showed a higher body satisfaction. Moreover they revealed positive significant associations between body-image and self-esteem. Results encouraged the use of the B-WISE questionnaire and highlighted the need for this measure to be employed in order to compare clinical and non-clinical samples. In particular, the B-WISE could be used as an instrument of screening useful in the early identification of high body dissatisfaction cases.