Development and validation of a Body Image Guilt and Shame Scale

The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Body Image Guilt and Shame Scale (BIGSS). Undergraduate students (n=87 women, n=66 men) completed the BIGSS, the Test of Self-conscious ffect ('TOSCA'), scales assessing body image concern and importance, social physique anxiety, and personal and social identity. A factor analysis indicated that a two-factor solution reflecting guilt and shame was the most parsimonious explanation of the data from the BIGSS responses. An additional factor analysis of the BIGSS and TOSCA responses indicated that the responses could be divided between generalised guilt, generalised shame, body image guilt, and body image shame dimensions. The BIGSS guilt and shame dimensions also demonstrated strong internal consistency and item/item total correlations especially when Item 10 was deleted. Consistent with predictions, BIGSS guilt and shame were positively correlated with social physique anxiety, body image concern, and body image importance, demonstrating construct validity. © 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.