Development and Initial Validation of Adolescent Responses to Body Dissatisfaction

Abstract

One community sample (N = 607) of youths generated self-reported responses to body dissatisfaction, from which the Adolescent Responses to Body Dissatisfaction (ARBD) inventory was constructed. A second similar sample (N = 830) completed this measure as well as measures of coping, body dissatisfaction, body mass index, depressive symptoms, and disordered eating behaviors. Evidence of seven ARBD factors emerged: Avoidant Responses, Distraction/Cognitive Shift, Focus on Weight Loss, Self-Affirmation, Lifestyle Strategies, Social Comparison, and Self-Presentation and Appearance Efforts. Subscales based on these factors provided evidence of convergent, discriminant, construct, and incremental validity. Sex and ethnic differences were also evident. The ARBD provides a window into potentially healthy and unhealthy ways in which adolescents cope with body dissatisfaction.