Validity and test-retest reliability in assessing current body size with figure drawings in Chinese adolescents

Int J Pediatr Obes. 2011 Jun;6(2-2):e107-13. doi: 10.3109/17477166.2011.575146. Epub 2011 May 24.

Abstract

Objective: The reliability and validity of Stunkard's Figure Rating Scale (FRS) as a measure of current body size (CBS) was established in Western adolescent girls but not in non-Western population. We examined the validity and test-retest reliability of Stunkard's FRS in assessing CBS among Chinese adolescents. Methods. In a school-based survey in Hong Kong, 5666 adolescents (boys: 45.1%; mean age 14.7 years) provided data on self-reported height and weight, CBS, perceived weight status, and health-related quality of life using the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form version 2 (SF-12v2). Height and weight were also objectively measured. Spearman's correlation was used to assess construct validity, concurrent validity and test-retest reliability.

Results: Convergent and discriminant validity were good: CBS correlated strongly with weight and self-reported/measured BMI, but only weakly with SF-12v2. CBS correlated strongly with perceived weight status, showing concurrent validity. Spearman's correlation (r) for CBS was 0.78 for girls and 0.72 for boys indicating good test-retest reliability. Validity and reliability results did not differ significantly between senior and junior grade adolescents.

Conclusion: Our findings support the use of Stunkard's FRS to measure body size among Chinese adolescents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / ethnology*
  • Asian People / psychology*
  • Body Height / ethnology
  • Body Image*
  • Body Size / ethnology*
  • Body Weight / ethnology
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Hong Kong
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Observer Variation
  • Perception
  • Quality of Life
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Concept*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*