Introduction
Body trust refers to a collection of attitudes, beliefs, feelings, and experiences that an individual holds about their body. This concept specifically focuses on the subjective and emotional experiences of a person in relation to their body, the acceptance or denial of its physical characteristics, and the psychological impacts of these experiences on personal identity and body image. Unlike traditional approaches that often emphasize the external or physical aspects of the body, body trust addresses the complex and multidimensional relationships individuals have with their bodies, aiming to understand how these interactions affect their psychological, cognitive, and emotional states. In the contemporary world, where social, cultural pressures, and beauty standards are constantly evolving, this concept has become a valuable tool for recognizing and analyzing individuals' relationships with their bodies. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Body Trust scale in different demographic groups and within the cultural and social context of Iran. This way, it seeks to provide researchers and therapists with a valid and reliable tool for assessing individuals' attitudes and psychological experiences related to their bodies.
Method
The sample size for this study was calculated using G-Power software. Based on the analyses performed, the required sample size for each group (men and women) was determined to be approximately 64 participants. In this study, 210 individuals (118 men and 92 women) from Tehran were selected using a convenience sampling method in 2024. To collect data, we used the Body Trust Scale, Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness and Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Finally, the collected data were analyzed using SPSS25 and AMOS software. In the next step, it was examined whether the factors discovered in the Body Trust Scale (BTS) were consistent between genders (men versus women).
Results
The analysis revealed that the measurement model demonstrates good fit. The results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) indicate that all factor loadings are at an acceptable level, suggesting that the observed variables accurately measure their corresponding latent constructs.These results suggest that some constructs have negative reciprocal effects, while others have an additive impact on one another. The results of the reliability and convergence analysis indicate that the average variance extracted (AVE) index for all constructs in the model is at an acceptable level. These findings confirm that the observed variables adequately reflect their respective constructs and that the model has sufficient convergent validity.
Conclusion
The results of this study indicated that the Persian version of the Body Trust Scale possesses satisfactory psychometric properties and can be utilized as a valid tool for assessing individuals' psychological attitudes and experiences regarding their bodies. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the factorial structure of the scale fits well and that its validity and reliability indices are at an acceptable level. These findings are consistent with previous research in the field of body image assessment and its relationship with various psychological dimensions. One of the most important findings of this research was the gender differences in various dimensions of body trust. The results showed that women reported higher scores in the dimensions of "physical attractiveness" and "comfort with the body" compared to men, while men had higher scores in the aspects of "comfort with inner emotions" and "trust in the body." So the findings of this research indicate that body trust is not only related to individual factors such as interoceptive awareness and self-efficacy but is also influenced by social factors like gender, culture, and media standards. These results emphasize the necessity of designing educational and therapeutic interventions to improve individuals' attitudes towards their bodies. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that the body trust scale is an appropriate tool for assessing individuals' attitudes towards their bodies in Iranian culture. Comparing the findings of this study with research conducted in other countries shows that the concept of body trust is largely influenced by cultural, social, and gender factors.