Development and validation of a new figual drawing scale for body-image assessment: The BIAS-BD

Author of Tool: 

Rick M. Gardner, Leah M. Jappe, and Lisa Gardner

Key references: 

Gardner, R.M., Friedman, B.N., & Jackson, N.A. (1998) Methodological concerns when using silhouettes to measue body image. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 86, 387-395.
Gardner, R.M., * Brown, D.L. (2010). Body image assessment: A review of figural drawing scales. Personality and Individual Differences, 48, 107-111.
Thompson, J.K. (1995) Assessment of body image. In D.B. Allison (Ed), Handbook of assessment methods for eating behaviors and weight related problems (pp. 119-144).
Thompson, J.K. (1996). Assessing body image disturbance: Measures, methodologhy, and implementation. In J.K. Thompson (Ed.), Body image, eating disorders, and obesity (pp. 49-81).

Primary use / Purpose: 

A figural drawing scale based on U.S. anthropometric data which allows for measurement of both accuracy of body size estimations as well as body dissatisfaction.

Background: 

A variety of figural drawing scales have been developed in recent years to measure body dissatisfaction. There are several methodological shortcoming associated with these scales, as detailed by Gardner, Friedman, & Jackson (1998). Most have unknown psychometric properties and measure only body dissatisfaction and not body size estimation accuracy (Gardner & Brown, 2010). Body dissatisfaction and body size estimation are two measures of body image disturbance that are largely independent of one another. The present figual drawing scale was designed to address the methodological shortcomings of existing figural drawing scales. The scale has good psychometric properties and measures both factors of body image disturbance.

Psychometrics: 

Test-retest reliability of current perceived size = .86 and of ideal size = .72Concurrent validity = .76.

Keywords: 

• Anxiety

Files: 

BIAS-BD figural drawing scaleScoring instructions

Other Information: 

Separate files of figural drawings for both males and females in randomized order with scoring keys are available from the author: [email protected]

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 

https://dx.doi.org/10.13072/midss.284