Development and Validation of the Self-Objectification Scale for Assessing Psychological Well-Being in Educational Context

Abstract

Presently, the youth suffer from much psychological distress due to overly emphasized outlooks and physical appearances by the media and society. This study aimed at the development and validation of the Self-Objectification Scale (SOS). The first phase involved conceptualizing the scale and generating relevant items. The interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed, leading to the creation of items aligned with McKinley and Hyde's self-objectification theory. In the second phase, the scale items underwent content validity by expert evaluation. The third phase involved a try-out study. In the fourth phase, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted on a sample of 306 adolescents selected by random sampling, aged between 19 and 25 years. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted on another sample of 256 participants by random sampling. Results for EFA showed KMO yielded a value of .873 and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity was statistically significant. The CFA yielded a Normed Fit Index (NFI) of .95, a Comparative Fit Index (CFI) of .97, a Goodness Fit Index (GFI) of .97, and a Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) of .07. These results suggested that the model fully meets the conventional criteria for the good fit indices. Cronbach's alpha was found to be 0.70. The Pearson correlation for concurrent validity between the SOS and Objectified Body Consciousness Scale is 0.24, a significant positive relationship. Conclusively, to measure the phenomenon of body objectification, a reliable and valid instrument of SOS is developed for the Pakistani youth.