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Chapter 32 - Body Image Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (BIAAQ)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2025

By
Emily K. Sandoz ,
Thomas Sease  and
Jade Campbell
Edited by
Virginia Ramseyer Winter ,
Tracy L. Tylka  and
Antoinette M. Landor
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 Body Image Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (BIAAQ; Sandoz et al., 2013) is a 12-item measure of body image flexibility. Body image flexibility involves full awareness and openness to the experience of embodiment (e.g., body image thoughts, feelings, perceptions, sensations, etc.) in any one moment in such a way as to allow for engagement in valued action. The BIAAQ can be administered to adults or adolescents in person or online. This chapter discusses the development of the BIAAQ and provides evidence for its reliability and validity. More specifically, the majority of studies evaluating the psychometric properties of the BIAAQ have found the instrument to be composed of a single-factor. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, split-half reliability, convergent validity, and incremental validity support the use of the BIAAQ. This chapter provides the BIAAQ items in their entirety, instructions for administering the scale to participants and the scoring procedure. Abbreviated and translated versions are also summarized. Logistics of use, such as permissions, copyright, and contact information, are provided for readers.

Keywords

Body Image Acceptance and Action QuestionnaireBIAAQbody image flexibilitybody image inflexibilitypositive body imagescale developmentpsychometric evidencefactor structurereliabilityvalidityadministrationscoringtranslations availablescale abbreviation

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Chapter
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Handbook of Body Image-Related Measures , pp. 99 - 101
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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References

Basarkod, G., Sahdra, B., & Ciarrochi, J. (2018). Body Image–Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–5: An abbreviation using genetic algorithms. Behavior Therapy, 49(3), 388–402. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2017.09.006.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bond, F. W., & Bunce, D. (2003). The role of acceptance and job control in mental health, job satisfaction, and work performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(6), 1057–1067. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.6.1057.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bond, F. W., Hayes, S. C., Baer, R. A., Carpenter, K. M., Guenole, N., Orcutt, H. K., et al. (2011). Preliminary psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II: A revised measure of psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance. Behavior Therapy, 42(4), 676–688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2011.03.007.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Callaghan, G. M., Sandoz, E. K., Darrow, S. M., & Feeney, T. K. (2015). The Body Image Psychological Inflexibility Scale: Development and psychometric properties. Psychiatry Research, 226(1), 45–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2014.11.039.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K., Wilson, K. G., Bissett, R. T., Pistorello, J., Toarmino, D., et al. (2004). Measuring experiential avoidance: A preliminary test of a working model. The Psychological Record, 54, 553–578. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395492.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rogers, C. B., Webb, J. B., & Jafari, N. (2018). A systematic review of the roles of body image flexibility as correlate, moderator, mediator, and in intervention science (2011–2018). Body Image, 27, 43–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.08.003.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sandoz, E. K., Webb, J. B., Rogers, C. B., & Squyres, E. R. (2018). Body image flexibility. In Tylka, T. L. & Piran, N. (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Body Image: Constructs, Protective Factors, and Interventions. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/med-psych/9780190841874.003.0005.Google Scholar
Sandoz, E. K., Wilson, K. G., Merwin, R. M., & Kellum, K. K. (2013). Assessment of body image flexibility: The Body Image-Acceptance and Action Questionnaire. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 2(1–2), 39–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2013.03.002.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

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