Body Image Self-Consciousness (BISC) Scale

doi:10.1017/9781009398275.044

Chapter 43 - Body Image Self-Consciousness (BISC) Scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 November 2025

Katherine Nicolai

Edited by

Virginia Ramseyer Winter ,

Tracy L. Tylka and

Antoinette M. Landor

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Virginia Ramseyer Winter: Affiliation:
University of Minnesota
Tracy L. Tylka: Affiliation:
Ohio State University
Antoinette M. Landor: Affiliation:
University of Missouri

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Summary

The 15-item Body Image Self-Consciousness (BISC) Scale (Wiederman, 2000) is a widely used contemporary measure of the extent individuals are self-conscious of their own bodily appearance during physical intimacy with a partner. The BISC Scale can be administered online or in-person to adolescents and adults with and without partnered sexual experience, and to those with male or female sexual partners. The BISC Scale is free to use in any setting. First, this chapter discusses the development of the BISC Scale and provides evidence of its psychometrics properties. Specifically, the BISC Scale has been found to have a single-factor structure within exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and is invariant across male and female genders. Internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and incremental validity support the use of the BISC Scale. Next, this chapter provides BISC Scale items in their entirety, instructions for administering the BISC Scale, the item response scale, and the scoring procedure. Logistics of use, including permissions, copyright, and contact information, are provided for readers. A Polish translation of the BISC Scale is provided and a modified version of the BISC Scale for use with men specifically is described (M-BISC; McDonough et al., 2008).

Keywords

Body Image Self-Consciousness Scale BISC negative body image self-consciousness sexual intimacy attractiveness items scale development psychometric evidence factor structure reliability validity administration scoring translation available M-BISC

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Handbook of Body Image-Related Measures , pp. 136 - 138

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009398275.044 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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References

Falconer, T., Quinn-Nila, C., & Milhausen, R. (2022). Body image self-consciousness, sexting, and sexual satisfaction among midlife Canadians. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 31(1), 46–63. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjhs.2021-0027.CrossRef Google Scholar

Kiss, M. J., Morrison, T. G., & McDonagh, L. K. (2018). Male body image self-consciousness during physical intimacy (M-BISC): Validating the M-BISC with gay men. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 16, 307–315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2018.12.004.CrossRef Google Scholar

McDonagh, L. K., Morrison, T. G., & McGuire, B. E. (2008). The naked truth: Development of a scale designed to measure male body image self-consciousness during physical intimacy. The Journal of Men’s Studies, 16(3), 253–265. https://doi.org/10.3149/jms.1603.253.CrossRef Google Scholar

Swami, V., & Barron, D. (2019). Translation and validation of body image instruments: Challenges, good practice guidelines, and reporting recommendations for test adaptation. Body Image, 31, 204–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.08.014.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Swami, V., Todd, J., & Barron, D. (2021). Translation and validation of body image instruments: An addendum to Swami and Barron (2019) in the form of frequently asked questions. Body Image, 37, 214–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.03.002.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Wiederman, M. W. (2000). Women’s body image self-consciousness during physical intimacy with a partner. The Journal of Sex Research, 37, 60–68. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224490009552021.CrossRef Google Scholar

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