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Assessment of shape‐ and weight‐based self‐esteem in adolescents
Author(s) -
Geller Josie,
Srikameswaran Suja,
Cockell Sarah J.,
Zaitsoff Shan L
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(200011)28:3<339::aid-eat12>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - psychology , feeling , discriminant validity , self esteem , psychometrics , clinical psychology , eating disorders , developmental psychology , eating disorder inventory , internal consistency , social psychology , bulimia nervosa
Objectives The Adolescent version of the Shape and Weight‐Based Self‐Esteem (SAWBS‐A) Inventory provides a contextual measure of the importance of shape and weight to overall feelings of self‐worth. The psychometric properties of the adult SAWBS Inventory have been previously established. The present research examined the psychometric properties of this measure in adolescent females, and compared structural aspects of self‐concept in symptomatic and nonsymptomatic individuals. Method A school sample of 197 adolescents completed the SAWBS‐A Inventory and measures to assess concurrent and discriminant validity. A subsample completed the SAWBS‐A Inventory a second time, 1 week later. Results SAWBS‐A scores were stable over 1 week and correlated with measures of eating disorder symptomatology. The scores also discriminated between adolescents reporting few or no disturbed eating symptoms and possible/probable cases. Comparison of self‐esteem profiles in these two groups revealed that in addition to body, the groups differed in the extent to which facial appearance contributed to feelings of self‐worth. Conclusions The SAWBS‐A Inventory may be useful in examining structural dimensions of self‐esteem in adolescents. © 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 28: 339–345, 2000.