Verbal Commentary from siblings and body dissatisfaction: Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Verbal Commentary on Physical Appearance Scale-Siblings (VCOPAS-S)
Camilla Matera, Amanda Nerini, Maria Novella Marconi, Cristina Stefanile
The aim of this study was to investigate the factor structure of the Italian version of the Verbal Commentary on Physical Appearance Scale (VCOPAS), modifying it in order to measure comments from siblings (Verbal Commentary on Physical Appearance Scale – Siblings; VCOPAS-S). Participants were 161 young women. The VCOPAS-S showed a three-factor structure: Negative Weight and Shape (α = .92), Positive Weight and Shape (α = .80), and Positive General Appearance Subscale (α = .90). Convergent validity (correlations with the Feedback on Physical Appearance Scale-Family, the Body Shape Questionnaire, and the Contour Drawing Rating Scale) was found to be good. The scale proves a valid and reliable instrument to assess the frequency of comments on physical appearance from siblings.
Keywords
Verbal Commentary on Physical Appearance Scale (VCOPAS); siblings; body dissatisfaction; validation; Italian young women.
