Male Body Talk Scale (MBT)

doi:10.1017/9781009398275.089

Chapter 88 - Male Body Talk Scale (MBT)

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 November 2025

Michael R. Sladek ,

Renee Engeln and

Rachel H. Salk

Edited by

Virginia Ramseyer Winter ,

Tracy L. Tylka and

Antoinette M. Landor

Show author details

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 16-item Male Body Talk Scale (MBT scale; Sladek et al., 2014) assesses the frequency with which men engage in negatively valenced body-related conversations with others. The MBT scale can be administered online or in-person with adolescents and adults and is free to use in any setting. This chapter first discusses the development of the MBT scale and then provides evidence regarding the measure’s psychometric properties. Specifically, research using the MBT scale has found evidence for a correlated two-factor structure (e.g., “Muscle Talk,” “Fat Talk”) identified through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with samples including male-identifying young adult college students and adults (ages 18-65), along with scalar (i.e., strong) invariance across three ethnic groups (Asian, Latino, and White) of male-identifying college students. Internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and incremental validity support the use of the MBT scale. Next, this chapter provides the MBT scale items, instructions for administering the measure to participants, the item response scale, and the scoring procedure. The measure has been translated from English into Chinese (Mandarin) and administered with evidence of reliability and validity. Provided for readers also are logistics of use, such as permissions, copyright, and citation information.

Keywords

Male Body Talk Scale MBT Scale items body talk male body image muscularity fat talk men body dissatisfaction scale development psychometric evidence factor structure reliability validity

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Handbook of Body Image-Related Measures , pp. 263 - 265

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009398275.089 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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References

Engeln, R., Sladek, M. R., & Waldron, H. (2013). Body talk among college men: Content, correlates, and effects. Body Image, 10(3), 300–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.02.001.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Engeln-Maddox, R., Salk, R. H., & Miller, S. A. (2012). Assessing women’s negative commentary on their own bodies: A psychometric investigation of the Negative Body Talk Scale. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 36, 162–178. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361684312441593.Google Scholar

He, J., Lu, Y., Barnhart, W. R., Tang, C., Zhang, H., Zhao, Y., & Lin, L. (2023). Translation and validation of a Chinese version of the Body Talk Scale for women and men. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11(1), 153–167. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00884-y.Google Scholar PubMed

Nichter, M., & Vuckovic, N. (1994). Fat talk. In Sault, N. (Ed.), Many Mirrors: Body Image and Social Relations (pp. 109–131). Rutgers University Press.Google Scholar

Sladek, M. R., Engeln, R., & Miller, S. A. (2014). Development and validation of the Male Body Talk Scale: A psychometric investigation. Body Image, 11(3), 233–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.02.005.CrossRef Google Scholar

Sladek, M. R., Salk, R. H., & Engeln, R. (2018). Negative body talk measures for Asian, Latina(o), and White women and men: Measurement equivalence and associations with ethnic-racial identity. Body Image, 25, 66–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.02.005.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

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