The Somatomorphic Matrix-Female: More evidence for the validity of bidimensional figural rating scales for women

J Clin Psychol. 2023 Feb;79(2):477-496. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23420. Epub 2022 Aug 24.

Abstract

Our study aimed to develop and provide a preliminary psychometric validation of the Somatomorphic Matrix-Female (SM-F), a new bidimensional female figural rating scale which can be used to gauge actual and desired levels of both body fat and muscularity in a consolidated measure, as well as providing an index of actual-desired body discrepancy based on these measures. Across two studies undergraduate women (n Study 1 = 481; n Study 2 = 391) completed the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire, the Body Shape Questionnaire-34, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (Study 1) and the Drive for Thinness Scale and the Drive for Muscularity Scale (Study 2), as well as the SM-F. Overall, the SM-F demonstrated sound content, concurrent, and convergent validity for actual and desired body fat, actual and desired muscularity, and their respective discrepancy scores.

Keywords: body dissatisfaction; body image; eating disorders; female; figural rating scale; validation.

MeSH terms

  • Body Image*
  • Drive
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Students
  • Thinness