Assessing the validity and reliability of family factors on physical activity: A case study in Turkey

The validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA) for children

Background/aim

Body esteem (BE) is defined as the self-evaluation of one’s own body or appearance. The Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA) consists of three subscales: BE-appearance, BE-weight, and BE-attribution. Though initially developed for adolescents and adults, the use of the scale has recently increased in health-related research on children. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the BESAA for children.

Materials and methods

The participants in the study were 4th grade children (aged 9–10 years) in Ankara, Turkey. The validity of the scale was evaluated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient, respectively.

Results

The Turkish version of the BESAA for children includes BE-weight, BE-appearance, and BE-attribution subscales. The scale demonstrated good model fit statistics (chi-square/df = 3.41, P < 0.001) and good internal consistency for BE-weight (α = 0.85), BE-appearance (α = 0.76), and BE-attribution (α = 0.69). According to our findings, test-retest reliability of the three subscales was in the moderate/acceptable range for children (r = 0.57–0.68, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The Turkish version of the BESAA can be used to measure BE in terms of appearance, weight, and attribution in children.

Perceptions of Obesity Prevention Policies: Socioeconomic Assessment in the Turkish Capital

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to inform public policy opportunities to reduce childhood obesity by identifying parents' perceptions of factors contributing to childhood obesity, attribution of responsibility, and the extent of their support for public prevention policies with attention to socio-economic status.

DESIGN AND METHODS

In 2015, 2066 parent-child dyads across socio-economic strata from 43 randomly selected schools in Ankara completed surveys and measurements to examine perceptions, attribution, and prevention policies related to childhood obesity.

RESULTS

Parents across the socio-demographic spectrum recognized obesity as a serious problem. Unhealthy food availability was identified as the leading cause of while industry and media were credited with having the greatest responsibility for childhood obesity. There was strong public support for policy strategies targeting schools, marketing, and the built environment, though support tempered as socio-economic status and parental education decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey provided insight into parents' knowledge and beliefs surrounding childhood obesity as well as their endorsement of related prevention strategies. Educational messages that address variations in SES to describe the causes of childhood obesity and connect those causes to actionable community prevention strategies may improve community support for enhanced policy actions within and beyond school settings.