The Double Consciousness Body Image Scale: A body image assessment centering the experiences of Black women
Abstract
Objective: Body image among Black women is poorly understood; emerging research suggests that Black women experience pressures to adhere to a body type not currently captured in commonly used body image measures. This study assessed the psychometric properties and validity of the Double Consciousness Body Image Scale (DCBIS), a new culturally relevant body image assessment for Black women. Method: Black women living in the United States (n = 198; 73.4% identified as African American; the remainder identified as African, Afro‐Latina, Caribbean, Caribbean American, Black descent, or multiple racial identities) completed online surveys assessing behaviors used to modify physical features, pressures to adhere to certain physical features, and eating disorder symptomatology. Results: Exploratory factor analysis identified a unitary factor structure focused on pressures to adhere to physical characteristics, as well as behavior manifestation of those pressures. The DCBIS demonstrated good internal consistency (α = .96). The DCBIS demonstrated convergent validity with measures of body image and disordered eating behaviors and attitudes. Discussion: The DCBIS is a culturally relevant assessment of body image centering the experiences of Black women living in the context of U.S. culture. Future research is needed to confirm the factor structure of the DCBIS and evaluate its psychometric properties among a broader representation of Black women, globally.
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Girls and Women of Color in the U.S. may still feel pressure to conform to Eurocentric beauty ideals, potentially experiencing dissatisfaction with weight in addition to other, culturally specific appearance concerns, such as dissatisfaction with facial features or skin tone.
“However, Girls and Women of Color in the U.S. may still feel pressure to conform to Eurocentric beauty ideals, potentially experiencing dissatisfaction with weight in addition to other, culturally specific appearance concerns, such as dissatisfaction with facial features or skin tone (Lowy et al., 2021; Wilfred & Lundgren, 2021; Winter et al., 2019).”
From The Perfect Storm: A Developmental-Sociocultural Framework for the Role of Social Media in Adolescent Girls' Body Image Concerns and Mental Health. (2022) · cites this paper as Wilfred & Lundgren, 2021
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“…feel pressure to conform to Eurocentric beauty ideals, potentially experiencing dissatisfaction with weight in addition to other, culturally specific appearance concerns, such as dissatisfaction with facial features or skin tone (Lowy et al., 2021; Wilfred & Lundgren, 2021; Winter et al., 2019).”
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- Authors
- Wilfred, S. A., & Lundgren, J. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Missouri–Kansas City (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wilfred, Salomé A.
- ORCID
- Wilfred, Salomé A.
- Venue
- International Journal of Eating Disorders
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2021-07-17
- Volume
- 54
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1771-1781
- ISSN
- 0276-3478 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-108X
- OpenAlex
- W3182810986
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 2.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Eating Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- body image, Black women, double consciousness, culturally responsive assessment, psychometric properties, factor structure, disordered eating, eating disorder symptoms, African American women
- MeSH terms
- Feeding and Eating Disorders, Black or African American, Body Image, Consciousness, Female, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, United States
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