Body Image Assessments: ABCD

According to Cash’s (2002) cognitive-behavioral perspective, cognitive biases or distortions in the processing or interpretation of appearance-related information or events are central to body-image functioning. Body-image cognitive distortions are theorized as crucial precipitators and perpetuators of body-image dysphoria. In his Body Image Workbook (1997, 2008), Cash identified eight types of distorted thinking related to how individuals process information about their physical appearance. In 2006, Jakatdar, Cash, and Engle published a study of the development and validation of a unique questionnaire assessment of these body image cognitive distortions. Based on previous research, items describe a possible pattern of thought in response to a particular situational context. Persons are asked to rate on a 5-point scale how characteristic the through pattern would be of their own thoughts in the situation. Two 18-item parallel forms of the Assessment of Body-Image Cognitive Distortions (ABCD) were validated with 263 college women. Both forms were unidimensional, highly internally consistent, and strongly intercorrelated, as well as relatively free from socially desirable responding. Convergent validity for all ABCD forms was strongly established using several standardized measures of body image and eating attitudes. Subsequent research further supports the reliability and validity of the ABCD. While most research on the ABCD has been with college women, there is preliminary support for its use with college men.

Purchasers of the ABCD receive a document that summarizes the extant research on the measure, its norms with college women, scoring instructions, and both parallel forms of the questionnaire. Rather than receiving a manual, you are referred to the following published article for more psychometric details on the measure:

Jakatdar, T. A., Cash, T. F., & Engle, E. K. (2006). Body-image thought processes: The development and initial validation of the Assessment of Body-Image Cognitive Distortions. Body Image: An International Journal of Research, 3, 325-333.

The ABCD, with scoring and normative information, is available for a nominal fee. Purchasers are permitted limited duplication of the questionnaires for research or clinical purposes. Conditions of use are as follows:

• Period of use is limited to two (2) years.
  
• Duplication of copies exceeding 1000 requires the author's written permission.
  
• Distribution for use by others is prohibited.
  
• Modification of the questionnaire items is prohibited. 
  
• Use in online surveys is acceptable if the survey is posted on a restricted site (i.e., not posted on an open website).
• Any commercial use of the materials, other than use in academic research or clinical practice, is prohibited.
  
• Any document (i.e., technical report, thesis, dissertation, or published article) resulting from use of the assessment must include its proper citation.

If you wish to order and print the ABCD and its psychometric and scoring information, and you agree to the above terms, CLICK the following link and provide the necessary information as requested.