Enjoying your body: The psychometric properties of an English version of the Dresden Body Image Questionnaire

Objective: We present a measure of positive body experiences. The purpose of this study was to validate an English translation of the Dresden Body Image Questionnaire (DKB-35), designed to assess positive body experiences and to examine whether its subscales moderate the relationship between BMI and eating and body problems. Method: An English version of the DKB-35 was administered to 228 men and women aged 18–73, who also completed measures of body dissatisfaction, disordered eating and life satisfaction, and reported height and weight. Results: The psychometric properties of the DKB-35 were satisfactory. DKB-35 subscale scores (Vitality, Body Acceptance, Body Narcissism, Physical Contact, and Sexual Fulfillment) correlated positively with life satisfaction and negatively with disordered eating and body dissatisfaction. Of the five subscales, only Body Acceptance correlated significantly with BMI. Body Narcissism and Physical Contact were significant moderators of the association between BMI and disordered eating. For people with low, but not high BMIs, low scorers on Body Narcissism or Physical Contact had higher levels of disordered eating and body dissatisfaction. In a regression analysis predicting life satisfaction scores with BMI and the DKB-35 subscales, the Body Acceptance, Vitality, and Sexual Fulfillment subscales were positive predictors. Conclusions: These results support the use of the DKB-35 in English. Body acceptance, vitality, sexual fulfillment, body narcissism, and physical contact are positive body experiences measured by this scale.