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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Metacognitive Beliefs and Body Image: Developing and Validating the Metacognitions About Physical Appearance Questionnaire
Cognitive Therapy and Research, Vol.49, pp.846-862
2025
Appears in Thompson Institute Research Collection
Abstract
Background
Appearance beliefs may negatively impact body image and psychological wellbeing. Accordingly, this study aimed to develop the Metacognitions about Physical Appearance Questionnaire (MPAQ).
Method
An initial 30-items were formulated after thematic analysis of clinicians’ (N = 23) reports regarding appearance-based metacognitive beliefs and feedback from laypeople. A cross-sectional design across two non-clinical samples (Sample 1 N = 370, Mage = 39.36, 79% female; Sample 2 N = 463, Mage = 30.88, 81% female) was then used to determine the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the MPAQ.
Results
Initial factor analyses supported a reduced 20-item MPAQ across two subscales (positive and negative beliefs about worry or rumination on physical appearance). Correlated residuals and cross-loadings detected with confirmatory factor analysis further reduced the MPAQ to 15 items (seven for positive, eight for negative). Reliability and convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity of the MPAQ-15 were supported in both samples.
Conclusion
The current study provides preliminary support for the MPAQ as a reliable and valid measure of metacognitions about physical appearance. The measure may be beneficial for researchers and clinicians working with individuals with body image concerns. Further psychometric evaluation of the MPAQ is recommended, including test-retest reliability and validation of the measure in diverse populations.
Details
- Title
- Metacognitive Beliefs and Body Image: Developing and Validating the Metacognitions About Physical Appearance Questionnaire
- Authors
- Lee Kannis-Dymand - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - PsychologyKarina Rune - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - PsychologyNicola Mitchell - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of HealthJanet D. Carter - University of CanterburyJacob Keech - Griffith UniversityAndrew Allen - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - PsychologyKate Mulgrew - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - PsychologyDavid Tod - Lancaster UniversityGeoff P. Lovell - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
- Publication details
- Cognitive Therapy and Research, Vol.49, pp.846-862
- Publisher
- Springer New York LLC
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10608-025-10572-7
- ISSN
- 1573-2819; 0147-5916
- Copyright note
- This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
- Organisation Unit
- Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; Graduate Research School; Thompson Institute; Cancer Research Cluster; Forest Research Institute; School of Health - Psychology; Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991103735902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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