Body Shape Dissatisfaction (BSQ Short Form)

What it measures

A ten-item scale measuring self-image.

Response format

6-point scale

Scale items

• Have you worried about your flesh being not firm enough?
• Has eating even a small amount of food made you feel fat?
• Have you avoided wearing clothes which make you particularly aware of the shape of your body?
• Have you felt ashamed of your body?
• Has worry about your shape made you diet?
• Have you felt happiest about your shape when your stomach has been empty (e.g. in the morning)?
• Have you felt that it is not fair that other people are thinner than you?
• Have you worried about your flesh being dimply?
• Has seeing your reflection (e.g. in a mirror or shop window) made you feel bad about your shape?
• Have you been particularly self-conscious about your shape when in the company of other people?

Full scale items shown. Always cite the original source when using this scale in research.

Usage notes & scoring

Internal consistency (alpha = .91) was reported in the primary study. 10-item short-form variant of the full 34-item Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), drawn from the BSQ-16A or BSQ-8B validated subsets. Captures three dimensions: body dysmorphia/cognitive preoccupation (items 1, 2, 8), body-related negative affect/shame (items 4, 7, 9, 10), and avoidance behaviors (item 3). No reverse-coded items; scores summed to create total body dissatisfaction index — higher scores indicate greater body shape concern. Originally attributed to Bolton (2009, personal correspondence); correct source confirmed as Evans & Dolan (1993).

Citation

Evans, C., & Dolan, B. (1993). Body Shape Questionnaire: Derivation of shortened "alternate forms." International Journal of Eating Disorders, 13(3), 319–327.

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