Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Reliability and validity of the Dutch-translated Body Image Scale

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:
Quality of Life Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Lacking a comprehensible and widely applicable Dutch test to assess body image changes in cancer patients, we validated Hopwood’s Body Image Scale (BIS) for the Dutch language.

Methods

The BIS consists of 10 items scored 0–3. Total scores range from 0 (minimum body image-related distress) to 30 (maximum distress). After forward and backward translation of the BIS, we evaluated its psychometric characteristics in breast cancer patients. We assessed feasibility by missing answer rates and positive response prevalence (score ≥1) per item (criterion ≥30 %), test–retest reliability with a 2-week interval, internal consistence using Cronbach’s α and discriminant ability by comparing body image after breast-conserving therapy (BCT) versus mastectomy.

Results

Psychometric evaluation of 108 BCT and 101 mastectomy patients showed high feasibility (0.2 % missing answers), high positive response prevalence of ≥30 % in 9/10 items and high internal consistency (α > 0.90). Test–retest reliability and correlation were high with 5.78 (test) versus 5.75 (retest; P = 0.86) and Spearman’s ρ = 0.92 (P < 0.01). Discriminant ability was good with BIS scores of 4.56 after BCT versus 7.19 after mastectomy (P < 0.01). All results were comparable to the results of the original BIS.

Conclusion

The Dutch-translated BIS showed excellent psychometric results very similar to the original BIS. Its concise and simple design further supports wide application in clinical practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Taylor-Ford, M., Meyerowitz, B. E., D’Orazio, L. M., Christie, K. M., Gross, M. E., & Agus, D. B. (2013). Body image predicts quality of life in men with prostate cancer. Psychooncology, 22(4), 756–761.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Zebrack, B., & Isaacson, S. (2012). Psychosocial care of adolescent and young adult patients with cancer and survivors. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 30(11), 1221–1226.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. den Heijer, M., Seynaeve, C., Timman, R., Duivenvoorden, H. J., Vanheusden, K., Tilanus-Linthorst, M., et al. (2012). Body image and psychological distress after prophylactic mastectomy and breast reconstruction in genetically predisposed women: A prospective long-term follow-up study. European Journal of Cancer, 48(9), 1263–1268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Pusic, A. L., Klassen, A. F., Snell, L., Cano, S. J., McCarthy, C., Scott, A., et al. (2012). Measuring and managing patient expectations for breast reconstruction: Impact on quality of life and patient satisfaction. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res, 12(2), 149–158.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Denewer, A., Farouk, O., Kotb, S., Setit, A., Abd El-Khalek, S., & Shetiwy, M. (2012). Quality of life among Egyptian women with breast cancer after sparing mastectomy and immediate autologous breast reconstruction: A comparative study. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 133(2), 537–544.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bellino, S., Fenocchio, M., Zizza, M., Rocca, G., Bogetti, P., & Bogetto, F. (2011). Quality of life of patients who undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy: Effects of personality characteristics. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 127(1), 10–17.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gurevich, M., Bishop, S., Bower, J., Malka, M., & Nyhof-Young, J. (2004). (Dis)embodying gender and sexuality in testicular cancer. Social Science and Medicine, 58(9), 1597–1607.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Park, S. Y., Bae, D. S., Nam, J. H., Park, C. T., Cho, C. H., Lee, J. M., et al. (2007). Quality of life and sexual problems in disease-free survivors of cervical cancer compared with the general population. Cancer, 110(12), 2716–2725.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Pinar, G., Okdem, S., Dogan, N., Buyukgonenc, L., & Ayhan, A. (2012). The effects of hysterectomy on body image, self-esteem, and marital adjustment in Turkish women with gynecologic cancer. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 16(3), E99–E104.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hopwood, P., Fletcher, I., Lee, A., & Al Ghazal, S. (2001). A Body Image Scale for use with cancer patients. European Journal of Cancer, 37(2), 189–197.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Bullinger, M., Alonso, J., Apolone, G., Leplege, A., Sullivan, M., Wood-Dauphinee, S., et al. (1998). Translating health status questionnaires and evaluating their quality: The IQOLA project approach. international quality of life assessment. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 51(11), 913–923.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Bland, J. M., & Altman, D. G. (1997). Cronbach’s alpha. BMJ, 314(7080), 572.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Rosenthal, R., & Rosnow, R. L. (1991). Essentials of behavioral research: Methods and data analysis (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jakatdar, T. A., Cash, T. F., & Engle, E. K. (2006). Body-image thought processes: The development and initial validation of the assessment of body-image cognitive distortions. Body Image, 3(4), 325–333.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Cash, T. F., & Pruzinsky, T. E. (1990). Body images: Development, deviance, and change. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cash, T. F., & Pruzinsky, T. E. (2002). Body image: A handbook of theory, research and clinical practice. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Donabedian, A. (1988). The quality of care. How can it be assessed? JAMA, 260(12), 1743–1748.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Damman, O. C., Hendriks, M., & Sixma, H. J. (2009). Towards more patient centred healthcare: A new Consumer quality index instrument to assess patients’ experiences with breast care. European Journal of Cancer, 45(9), 1569–1577.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank all participating patients and acknowledge Dr. P. Hopwood and colleagues for the development of the original Body Image Scale.

Conflict of interest

None of the authors declare financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence their work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    V. M. T. van Verschuer

  2. Sint Franciscus Vlietland Group, Department of Surgery, Sint Franciscus Gasthuis, Kleiweg 500, 3045 PM, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    V. M. T. van Verschuer, W. W. Vrijland, I. Mares-Engelberts & T. M. A. L. Klem

Authors
  1. V. M. T. van Verschuer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. W. Vrijland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. Mares-Engelberts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T. M. A. L. Klem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. M. A. L. Klem.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

van Verschuer, V.M.T., Vrijland, W.W., Mares-Engelberts, I. et al. Reliability and validity of the Dutch-translated Body Image Scale. Qual Life Res 24, 1629–1633 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-014-0907-1

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-014-0907-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation