Body Comparison Scale – BCS
Measures the frequency with which individuals compare specific body parts and physical attributes to those of others.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Body Comparison Scale – BCS was developed by Fisher, E., Dunn, M., & Thompson, J. K. (2002). It is designed to measure Body image comparison. The scale is intended for use with Adults and adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 25 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: General Appearance (Non-Weight/Non-Muscular), Muscular, Weight, Overall/Other.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| General Appearance (Non-Weight/Non-Muscular) | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 | 9 |
| Muscular | 10,11,12,13,14,15 | 6 |
| Weight | 16,17,18,19,20 | 5 |
| Overall/Other | 21,22,23,24,25 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never, 2 = Rarely, 3 = Sometimes, 4 = Often, 5 = Always.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 25 to 125. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low body comparison tendency: 25 – 58
- Moderate body comparison tendency: 59 – 92
- High body comparison tendency: 93 – 125
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.