Development and validation of the Body Compassion Questionnaire
Background The associations between compassion, self-compassion, and body image are well established. However, there is not yet a compassion-informed measure of body compassion that can be applied to any aspect of one’s body. Method Items for The Body Compassion Questionnaire (BCQ) were derived from...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2021.1993229 |
| _version_ | 1818950302937645056 |
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| author | Emily S. Beadle Alison Cain Shazia Akhtar Joyce Lennox Lauren McGuire Nicholas A. Troop |
| author_facet | Emily S. Beadle Alison Cain Shazia Akhtar Joyce Lennox Lauren McGuire Nicholas A. Troop |
| author_sort | Emily S. Beadle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The associations between compassion, self-compassion, and body image are well established. However, there is not yet a compassion-informed measure of body compassion that can be applied to any aspect of one’s body. Method Items for The Body Compassion Questionnaire (BCQ) were derived from an earlier expressive writing study on self-compassion in body image. In study 1, the BCQ was completed by 728 men and women; with factor analysis, Rasch analysis, content and concurrent validation and reliability assessed. Study 2 compared BCQ scores with investigator-based ratings of spontaneous expressions of body compassion through writing in female undergraduates as well as an existing measure of body compassion. Study 3 examined the associations between BCQ scores, and the emotions expressed in a structured body image writing task. It also examined the relative predictive ability of the BCQ versus self-compassion in predicting eating pathology. Results A bi-factor structure was identified, with an overall BCQ score and three subscales: body kindness, common humanity, and motivated action. The BCQ and its subscales had good validity and reliability and Rasch analysis showed the item fit was invariant across a range of demographic characteristics. Spontaneous expressions of body compassion showed positive associations with body kindness. Overall BCQ scores and body kindness were also inversely related to negative emotions expressed in relation to body image. The BCQ was a better predictor of eating disorder symptoms than was self-compassion. Conclusions The BCQ is the first measure of body compassion that is aligned with theoretical aspects of self-compassion, and which includes aspects of both the first and second psychologies of compassion. It also highlights its potential use as a process measure of body compassion in models of eating disorder symptomology, mood and wellbeing as well as an outcome measure for compassion-based interventions in eating disorders and body image. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T09:16:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-48a7c95c4f84479da3b094986846998b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2164-2850 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T09:16:26Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-48a7c95c4f84479da3b094986846998b2022-12-21T19:45:24ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHealth Psychology and Behavioral Medicine2164-28502021-01-019195198810.1080/21642850.2021.19932291993229Development and validation of the Body Compassion QuestionnaireEmily S. Beadle0Alison Cain1Shazia Akhtar2Joyce Lennox3Lauren McGuire4Nicholas A. Troop5University of HertfordshireUniversity of HertfordshireUniversity of HertfordshireUniversity of HertfordshireUniversity of HertfordshireUniversity of HertfordshireBackground The associations between compassion, self-compassion, and body image are well established. However, there is not yet a compassion-informed measure of body compassion that can be applied to any aspect of one’s body. Method Items for The Body Compassion Questionnaire (BCQ) were derived from an earlier expressive writing study on self-compassion in body image. In study 1, the BCQ was completed by 728 men and women; with factor analysis, Rasch analysis, content and concurrent validation and reliability assessed. Study 2 compared BCQ scores with investigator-based ratings of spontaneous expressions of body compassion through writing in female undergraduates as well as an existing measure of body compassion. Study 3 examined the associations between BCQ scores, and the emotions expressed in a structured body image writing task. It also examined the relative predictive ability of the BCQ versus self-compassion in predicting eating pathology. Results A bi-factor structure was identified, with an overall BCQ score and three subscales: body kindness, common humanity, and motivated action. The BCQ and its subscales had good validity and reliability and Rasch analysis showed the item fit was invariant across a range of demographic characteristics. Spontaneous expressions of body compassion showed positive associations with body kindness. Overall BCQ scores and body kindness were also inversely related to negative emotions expressed in relation to body image. The BCQ was a better predictor of eating disorder symptoms than was self-compassion. Conclusions The BCQ is the first measure of body compassion that is aligned with theoretical aspects of self-compassion, and which includes aspects of both the first and second psychologies of compassion. It also highlights its potential use as a process measure of body compassion in models of eating disorder symptomology, mood and wellbeing as well as an outcome measure for compassion-based interventions in eating disorders and body image.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2021.1993229body compassioneating behaviourbody imageself-compassion |
| spellingShingle | Emily S. Beadle Alison Cain Shazia Akhtar Joyce Lennox Lauren McGuire Nicholas A. Troop Development and validation of the Body Compassion Questionnaire Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine body compassion eating behaviour body image self-compassion |
| title | Development and validation of the Body Compassion Questionnaire |
| title_full | Development and validation of the Body Compassion Questionnaire |
| title_fullStr | Development and validation of the Body Compassion Questionnaire |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development and validation of the Body Compassion Questionnaire |
| title_short | Development and validation of the Body Compassion Questionnaire |
| title_sort | development and validation of the body compassion questionnaire |
| topic | body compassion eating behaviour body image self-compassion |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2021.1993229 |
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