The Body Acceptance by Others Scale-2: An examination of its psychometric properties in a French-Canadian adult sample

The 13-item Body Acceptance by Others Scale-2 (BAOS-2) is an instrument designed to measure generalised perceptions of body acceptance by others. Here, we examined the psychometric properties of a novel French translation of the BAOS-2. A total of 763 French-speaking adults from Canada were asked to complete the BAOS-2, alongside additional validated measures of positive body image, psychological well-being, and eating patterns. Exploratory factor analysis in a first split-half subsample (n = 382) indicated that a unidimensional model with all 13 items had good fit to the data. This model was cross-validated in a second split-half subsample (n = 381) using confirmatory factor analysis. A partial factors-only model indicated, as a function of subsamples, that the French BAOS-2 has differential item functioning based on respondent age, body mass index (BMI), and gender identity (men, women). In addition, higher respondent BMI was associated with lower body acceptance in both subsamples. Our results also supported convergent and concurrent validity of the French BAOS-2, with body acceptance by others associated with greater body appreciation and psychological well-being, as well as lower symptoms of maladaptive eating patterns. The present results indicate that the French BAOS-2 has strong psychometric properties in French-speaking Canadian adults.