Measuring Self-Objectification in Cisgender Heterosexual Women and Men: A Psychometric Validation of Three Widely Used Self-Objectification Scales

Abstract

A large body of literature demonstrates that self-objectification can harm individuals’ body image. However, measures of self-objectification are primarily designed for women and have not been adequately validated in men. This research investigated the psychometric properties of the Self-Objectification Questionnaire (SOQ), the Objectified Body Consciousness Body Surveillance Scale (OBC-Surv), and the Self-Objectification Beliefs and Behaviors Scale (SOBBS) in cisgender heterosexual women and men. Study 1 (women = 180, men = 163) and Study 2 (women = 137, men = 138, age-representative samples) used an online longitudinal study design, with a follow up after two weeks to assess test-retest reliability. While the SOQ, OBC-Surv and SOBBS generally displayed satisfactory psychometric properties in women, only the OBC-Surv and SOBBS displayed satisfactory psychometric properties in men. In addition, while women scored significantly higher on the SOQ, OBC-Surv, SOBBS Factor 1 and SOBBS Total in both Studies 1 and 2, sexual objectification experience only adequately accounted for gender-differences in scores on the SOBBS, and not the SOQ or OBC-Surv. To confirm that the SOBBS is appropriate for measuring and comparing self-objectification across women and men, Study 3 reanalysed the data from Study 2 to examine measurement invariance. This analysis demonstrated measurement invariance of the SOBBS between women and men. Accordingly, the SOBBS is recommended for measuring and comparing self-objectification in women and men. Future research should further examine the psychometric properties of the SOBBS in men and potential explanations of gender-differences in scores on the OBC-Surv.