The measurement of media literacy in eating disorder risk factor research: psychometric properties of six measures

Abstract

BackgroundEvaluation of media literacy-based interventions for the prevention of eating disorder risk is limited by the lack of appropriate measures with established psychometric properties with which to assess change in media literacy. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the psychometric properties and use in eating disorders risk factor research of six measures of media literacy that assess media processing and critical thinking about general media and critical thinking about appearance-focused media.MethodsThe factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity, including convergent and discriminant validity, were examined in six measures in two samples of early adolescent females. The measures were the Realism Scepticism, Similarity Scepticism, and Desirability Scepticism subscales of the Media Attitudes Questionnaire, the Fake subscale of the Critical Processing of Beauty Images Scale, the Critical Thinking about Media Messages scale, and Critical Thinking about Media Messages - Appearance Focus scale.ResultsThe factor structure of the measures was supported with factor analysis. Items from the Media Attitudes Questionnaire loaded on the three subscales Realism Scepticism, Similarity Scepticism, and Desirability Scepticism and items from each of the Fake subscale, Critical Thinking about Media Messages scale and Critical Thinking about Media Messages - Appearance Focus scale loaded on one scale. In addition, scores on the measures were reliable (adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability) and valid (adequate construct, convergent, and discriminant validity) in early adolescent females. Two exceptions were Realism Scepticism, which had slightly low test-retest reliability, and the Fake subscale, for which support for construct validity was lacking.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence to support the use of select media literacy measures, particularly the Realism Scepticism subscale and the Critical Thinking about Media Messages scale, in eating disorder risk factor research and the findings will contribute to enhanced evaluation of media literacy-based prevention interventions.

A pilot evaluation of a social media literacy intervention to reduce risk factors for eating disorders

“…Measures of correlates of body image were internalisation of the thin‐ideal (Schaefer et al, ), upward appearance comparison (O'Brien et al, ), appearance conversations (Jones, Vigfusdottir, & Lee, ), fear of fat (Goldfarb, Dykens, & Gerrard, ), and fear of negative appearance evaluation (Lundgren, Anderson, & Thompson, ). Media literacy variables were realism scepticism and critical thinking about appearance focused media (McLean, Paxton, & Wertheim, ).…”

Does Media Literacy Mitigate Risk for Reduced Body Satisfaction Following Exposure to Thin-Ideal Media?

“…Perceived realism of media images was assessed with the two item version of the Realism subscale of the Media Attitudes Questionnaire (Irving et al 1998;McLean et al 2015). Participants responded to items "Normally women (in real life) look like models in ads" and "Normally women (in real life) are as thin as the models in ads" on a 5-point scale from 1 (completely disagree) to 5 (completely agree).…”

Does Better Media Literacy Protect Against the Desire for Tanned Skin and Propensity for Making Appearance Comparisons?

“…The Media Attitudes Questionnaire (MAQ; Irving et al, 1998) was adapted to assess media literacy in relation to the tanned ideal. McLean et al (2016) assessed the psychometric properties of the MAQ using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to address the inconsistent use of the scale in other research and found the best-fitting model included eight items (see Table 1). Items are rated on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 ( completely disagree ) to 5 ( completely agree ).…”

“…The items are reverse-scored and a mean score calculated, with high scores indicating greater skepticism about media and a higher level of media literacy. McLean et al (2016) reported high internal consistency for scores on the MAQ subscales (α = .80–.83). Internal consistency in this study for mean scores on the MAQ was α = .74.…”