Validation of a Three-Item Short Form of the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-3) in the German Population

Introduction: Individuals suffering from overweight or obesity frequently experience weight-based stigmatization. The widespread belief that weight is a matter of personal will and self-control results in various weight-based stereotypes (e.g., laziness, lack of self-discipline, or neglect). Objecti...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sören Kliem, Hans-Christian Puls, Andreas Hinz, Anette Kersting, Elmar Brähler, Anja Hilbert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Karger Publishers 2020-11-01
Series:Obesity Facts
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/510923
id doaj-c222264869fe46f2b58f059cf1bd5b3b
record_format Article
spelling doaj-c222264869fe46f2b58f059cf1bd5b3b2020-12-23T15:11:37ZengKarger PublishersObesity Facts1662-40251662-40332020-11-0113656057110.1159/000510923510923Validation of a Three-Item Short Form of the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-3) in the German PopulationSören KliemHans-Christian PulsAndreas HinzAnette KerstingElmar BrählerAnja HilbertIntroduction: Individuals suffering from overweight or obesity frequently experience weight-based stigmatization. The widespread belief that weight is a matter of personal will and self-control results in various weight-based stereotypes (e.g., laziness, lack of self-discipline, or neglect). Objective: Based on the modified version of the Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M), a short form for the economic assessment of weight bias internalization in the general population was compiled and validated. Methods: A three-item short form (WBIS-3) was derived based on data from a representative sample of the German population (n = 1,092). This new short form was validated in a second representative population sample (n = 2,513). Item characteristics and internal consistency were obtained. Measurement invariance was tested. Construct validity was established via the correlation with theoretically related constructs (depression, anxiety, eating behavior, discrimination, weight status). To establish scale validity, all analyses were performed for the whole sample as well as for the subsample of individuals with overweight. Age- and gender-specific population norms were provided. Results: The WBIS-3 exhibited excellent psychometric properties. Internal consistency was α = 0.92. Strong measurement invariance was confirmed regarding age, gender, discrimination, and weight status in both the whole sample as well as the overweight subsample. Conclusions: The WBIS-3 constitutes a valid and economical tool for the assessment of weight bias internalization in epidemiological contexts. Measurement invariance allows for an unbiased comparison of means, correlation coefficients, and path coefficients within structural equation modeling across groups.https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/510923social perceptionbiasoverweightobesityepidemiologic studiespsychometrics
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Sören Kliem
Hans-Christian Puls
Andreas Hinz
Anette Kersting
Elmar Brähler
Anja Hilbert
spellingShingle Sören Kliem
Hans-Christian Puls
Andreas Hinz
Anette Kersting
Elmar Brähler
Anja Hilbert
Validation of a Three-Item Short Form of the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-3) in the German Population
Obesity Facts
social perception
bias
overweight
obesity
epidemiologic studies
psychometrics
author_facet Sören Kliem
Hans-Christian Puls
Andreas Hinz
Anette Kersting
Elmar Brähler
Anja Hilbert
author_sort Sören Kliem
title Validation of a Three-Item Short Form of the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-3) in the German Population
title_short Validation of a Three-Item Short Form of the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-3) in the German Population
title_full Validation of a Three-Item Short Form of the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-3) in the German Population
title_fullStr Validation of a Three-Item Short Form of the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-3) in the German Population
title_full_unstemmed Validation of a Three-Item Short Form of the Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-3) in the German Population
title_sort validation of a three-item short form of the modified weight bias internalization scale (wbis-3) in the german population
publisher Karger Publishers
series Obesity Facts
issn 1662-4025
1662-4033
publishDate 2020-11-01
description Introduction: Individuals suffering from overweight or obesity frequently experience weight-based stigmatization. The widespread belief that weight is a matter of personal will and self-control results in various weight-based stereotypes (e.g., laziness, lack of self-discipline, or neglect). Objective: Based on the modified version of the Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M), a short form for the economic assessment of weight bias internalization in the general population was compiled and validated. Methods: A three-item short form (WBIS-3) was derived based on data from a representative sample of the German population (n = 1,092). This new short form was validated in a second representative population sample (n = 2,513). Item characteristics and internal consistency were obtained. Measurement invariance was tested. Construct validity was established via the correlation with theoretically related constructs (depression, anxiety, eating behavior, discrimination, weight status). To establish scale validity, all analyses were performed for the whole sample as well as for the subsample of individuals with overweight. Age- and gender-specific population norms were provided. Results: The WBIS-3 exhibited excellent psychometric properties. Internal consistency was α = 0.92. Strong measurement invariance was confirmed regarding age, gender, discrimination, and weight status in both the whole sample as well as the overweight subsample. Conclusions: The WBIS-3 constitutes a valid and economical tool for the assessment of weight bias internalization in epidemiological contexts. Measurement invariance allows for an unbiased comparison of means, correlation coefficients, and path coefficients within structural equation modeling across groups.
topic social perception
bias
overweight
obesity
epidemiologic studies
psychometrics
url https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/510923
work_keys_str_mv AT sorenkliem validationofathreeitemshortformofthemodifiedweightbiasinternalizationscalewbis3inthegermanpopulation
AT hanschristianpuls validationofathreeitemshortformofthemodifiedweightbiasinternalizationscalewbis3inthegermanpopulation
AT andreashinz validationofathreeitemshortformofthemodifiedweightbiasinternalizationscalewbis3inthegermanpopulation
AT anettekersting validationofathreeitemshortformofthemodifiedweightbiasinternalizationscalewbis3inthegermanpopulation
AT elmarbrahler validationofathreeitemshortformofthemodifiedweightbiasinternalizationscalewbis3inthegermanpopulation
AT anjahilbert validationofathreeitemshortformofthemodifiedweightbiasinternalizationscalewbis3inthegermanpopulation
_version_ 1724372596577796096