Vázquez R, Alvarez G, Mancilla JM

Language: Spanish
References: 23
Page: 18-24
PDF size: 181.47 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Sociocultural models generally supply a relevant theoretical support for explaining the high levels existing in most countries, of body image and of the increase of eating disorders among women. These patterns hold that the present beauty standard stresses out outstandingly the convenience of slimness. Despite the importance of the cultural aspect in the development and maintenance of body image disruptions, empirical research is limited due to the lack of a tool designed to evaluate such influence. The Questionnaire of Sociocultural Influences on the Aesthetic Body Shape Model (21) was designed in an attempt to measure the influence of the agents and situations that transmit the actual aesthetic model. The validation was carried out in 118 young Spanish women: 59 anorectics and 59 normal, matched by age and social class. The questionnaire showed satisfactory internal consistency and appropriate sensitivity and specificity as a sound instrument for screening due to its relation whith nervous anorexia and sociocultural influences. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the CIMEC scale in Mexican population. This questionnaire was applied to a 1001 female students, 14 to 33 years old, from both private and public high schools and undergraduate institutions. The alpha validity coefficient was 0.94 which confirms that the CIMEC questionnaire has satisfactory internal consistency. Six factors were extracted after a factorial analysis and varimax rotation. These were clustered into four groups explaining 45.3% of the total variance, after a verifying analysis. Factor 1 is significantly loaded (a 5 0.92), containing fourteen items that can be identified as Advertising Influence. Factor 2 contains ten items that show anxiety in situations that question the body itself, and was called Distress because of Body Image and Behaviors for Weight Reduction (a 5 0.86). Factor 3 contains six questions related to the Influence of Social Models (a 5 0.75). Finally, Factor 4 contains five item s regarding the Influence of Social Relations (a 5 0.63). The CIMEC proved to be useful for researchers interested in further investigation of the sociocultural influence on the aesthetic body shape model in Mexico. Nevertheless it is still necessary to check out its predictive validity in patients with eating disorders, and in normal population.

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