The Use of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire with Middle School Boys and Girls
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-2001
Keywords
adolescents, culture, boys
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-108X(200103)29:2<216::AID-EAT1011>3.0.CO;2-V
Abstract
Objective: To assess the psychometric validity of versions of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ) designed for use with middle school girls and boys.
Method: As part of a larger study, the SATAQ was administered to 505 middle school children. To assess concurrent validity, scales concerning the use of Weight Control and Muscle Building Techniques as well as the Body Esteem Scale (BES) were also administered. Body mass index (BMI) was also calculated.
Results:Both the girls and boys versions of the SATAQ showed adequate validity. Two SATAQ subscales, Internalization and Awareness of societal ideals of thinness, were identified for girls. For boys, three SATAQ subscales were identified: Internalization and Awareness of a muscular, non‐fat ideal and a scale tapping the the importance of a Muscular Look. The subscales and total score showed acceptable concurrent validity. Even after controlling for BMI, they contributed significant explained variance for the use of Weight Control Techniques in both boys and girls and use of Muscle Building Techniques in boys. Patterns of relationships among variables differed by gender.
Discussion:The results suggest that sociocultural influences play a role in the use of Weight Control and Muscle Building Techniques for middle school boys although their influence is not as strong as it is for the use of Weight Control Techniques by middle school girls. The SATAQ seems to be an adequate measure of the nature of some of these influences.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
International Journal of Eating Disorders, v. 29, issue 2, p. 216-223
Scholar Commons Citation
Smolak, Linda; Levine, Michael; and Thompson, Joel Kevin, "The Use of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire with Middle School Boys and Girls" (2001). Psychology Faculty Publications. 2160.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/psy_facpub/2160
