Factor Structure and Invariance by Sex of the Body Esteem Scale in Mexican Adolescents

Abstract

In this study, we examined the factor structure of the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA), using the Exploratory Model of Structural Equations, and the invariance by sex, in a sample of Mexican adolescents. The sample included 491 men and 526 women, ranging from 11 to 19 years-old, who completed the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults, the Body Esteem Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale. The results indicated that our data fit well with the three-factor model, originally proposed by Mendelson et al. for the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults. Regarding invariance, in both samples (men and women), the three-factor model had acceptable fit indices. The BESAA correlated positively and significantly with self-esteem and body esteem, in addition, it correlated negatively with the Body Mass Index and with depressive symptoms. The internal consistency of the BESAA was acceptable. This study contributes to the understanding of body esteem in Mexican adolescents, providing evidence of the validity of the BESAA in this population and underlining its usefulness in research on body image in Mexican population.