Polska adaptacja i walidacja skali the physical appearance comparison scale (PACS) - Analiza wśród młodzieży w okresie późnej adolescencji w kontekście otyłości
Publié en ligne: 28 oct. 2017
Pages: 213 - 223
Reçu: 19 juin 2017
Accepté: 22 août 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.34763/devperiodmed.20172103.213223
© 2017 Anna Dzielska, Joanna Mazur, Hanna Nałęcz, Anna Oblacińska, Małgorzata Strucińska, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Introduction
The PACS scale is a tool which is widely used in foreign studies to evaluate the tendency towards appearance comparisons in social situations. People inclined to make such comparisons reveal a higher level of dissatisfaction with their body and a higher inclination towards problem eating.
Purpose of the study
The main purpose of the study was to adapt the PACS scale. A factor structure assessment and reliability analysis of the Polish version was carried out. The correlation between PACS and pubertal development indicators, the body mass index and psycho-social factors and eating behaviours were evaluated as part of the validity analysis.
Material and methods
The data were derived from the Internet-based study of problem eating behaviours conducted by the Institute of Mother and Child during the 2014/2015 school year. The analyses covered 1285 second grade upper secondary school students (47.2% boys). The mean age was 17.59 years (SD=0.39). An exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis of the PACS questionnaire was performed. Using the Kruskal-Wallis test or the Pearson’s r correlation, the association between (PACS-PL) and perceived pubertal timing, BMI, the body image (BIS), self-perception of body mass, self-esteem (RSES), self-esteem in social relations (SPPA-SSE), problem eating behaviours (TFEQ-13) were evaluated. The linear regression method was used to estimate the impact of PACS-PL on selected variables in the BMI groups in order to investigate of the moderation effect.
Results
The shortened 3-item Polish version of the scale (PACS-PL) was considered optimal. It is characterized by high reliability (Cronbach’s α=0.868), and the main factor explains 79.1% of the variance of the scale results. The model also shows high values of fit indicators: χ2 = 1.144 (df=1, p=0.285), GFI=0.999, AGFI=0.996, CFI= 1.000, NFI=0.999, TLI- 1.000, RMSEA=0.011. Girls display a stronger tendency to compare their appearance with others. The PACS-PL scale demonstrates the expected correlations with developmental, psycho-social and behavioural factors, this correlation being stronger among girls. It was also shown that the PACS-PL index is a stronger predictor of dissatisfaction with the body and lower self-esteem in the group of obese adolescents.
Conclusions
The Polish version of the scale, PACS-PL, is a reliable and valid tool for evaluating the tendency to compare one’s appearance with others in late adolescence. The subject of social comparison ought to become an element of prevention activities associated with acceptance of one’s body and self-esteem, especially among young people with excess body weight.