Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory (BICSI)

doi:10.1017/9781009398275.036

Chapter 35 - Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory (BICSI)

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 November 2025

Thomas F. Cash and

Tracy L. Tylka

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 29-item Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory (BICSI; Cash et al., 2005) assesses three distinct styles respondents use to cope with situational threats to their body image, which are appearance fixing, avoidance, and positive rational acceptance. The BICSI can be administered online or in-person to adolescents or adults; it is free to use. This chapter first discusses the development of the BICSI and then provides evidence of its psychometrics. More specifically, the BICSI has been found to have a 3-factor structure within exploratory and/or confirmatory factor analyses. Internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, and construct validity support the use of the BICSI. Next, this chapter provides all BICSI items, instructions for administering the BICSI to participants, the item response scale, and the scoring procedure. Links to known translations are provided. Logistics of use, such as how to obtain the scale, permissions, copyright, and contact information, are provided for readers.

Keywords

Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory BICSI body image threats coping strategies body image coping appearance fixing avoidance positive rational acceptance scale development psychometric evidence factor structure reliability validity administration scoring translations

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Handbook of Body Image-Related Measures , pp. 108 - 111

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009398275.036 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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References

Cash, T. F. (1999). Preliminary development of the Body Image Coping Questionnaire. Unpublished raw data.Google Scholar

Cash, T. F. (2002). Cognitive-behavioral perspectives on body image. In Cash, T. F. & Pruzinsky, T. (Eds.), Body Image: A Handbook of Theory, Research, and Clinical Practice (pp. 38–46). Guilford Press.Google Scholar

Cash, T. F. (2011). Cognitive-behavioral perspectives on body image. In Cash, T. F. & Smolak, L. (Eds.), Body Image: A Handbook of Science, Practice, and Prevention (2nd ed., pp. 39–47). Guilford Press.Google Scholar

Cash, T. F., & Grasso, K. (2005). The norms and stability of new measures of the multidimensional body image construct. Body Image, 2(2), 199–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2005.03.007.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Cash, T. F., Santos, M. T., & Williams, E. F. (2005). Coping with body-image threats and challenges: Validation of the Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 58, 191–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.07.008.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Endler, N. S., & Parker, J. D. A. (1990). Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS): Manual. Multi-Health Systems.Google Scholar

Farid, M., Kamrani, M. A., & Jafarian, S. (2018). Psychometric evaluation of the Persian version of the Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory. Iran Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 12(4),e14952. http://dx.doi.org/10.5812/ijpbs.14952.Google Scholar

Mancuso, S. F. (2016). Body image inflexibility mediates the relationship between body image evaluation and maladaptive body image coping strategies. Body Image, 16, 28–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.10.003.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Matera, C., Casati, C., Paradisi, M., Di Gesto, C., & Nerini, A. (2024). Positive body image and psychological wellbeing among women and men: The mediating role of body image coping strategies. Behavioral Sciences, 14(5), 378. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050378.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

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

Rollero, C., Tartaglia, S., & De Piccoli, N. (2017). Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory. Psicologia Sociale, 3(2017), 293–306. https://doi.org/10.1482/87886.Google Scholar

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