SNS Body Talk Scale

doi:10.1017/9781009398275.119

Chapter 118 - SNS Body Talk Scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 November 2025

Yuhui Wang and

Li Lei

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 5-item SNS Body Talk Scale (Wang, Wang, et al., 2020) is used to assess how often individuals talk about expectations for their bodies and for appearance enhancements with their friends on SNS. It can be administered online or in-person to adolescents and young adults and is free to use in any setting. This chapter first discusses the development of the SNS Body Talk Scale and then provides evidence of its psychometrics. More specifically, it has been found to have a single-factor structure within confirmatory factor analyses and is fully invariant across gender and age groups. Internal consistency reliability supports the use of the SNS Body Talk Scale. Next, this chapter provides the SNS Body Talk Scale items in their entirety, instructions for administering the scale to participants, the item response scale, and the scoring procedure. Logistics of use, such as permissions, copyright, and contact information, are provided for readers.

Keywords

SNS Body Talk Scale items body talk appearance conversation social networking sites scale development psychometric evidence factor structure reliability validity administration scoring

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Handbook of Body Image-Related Measures , pp. 350 - 351

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009398275.119 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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References

An, X. (2017). Social networking site uses, internalization, body surveillance, social comparison and body dissatisfaction of males and females in mainland China. Asian Journal of Communication, 27(6), 616–630. https://doi.org/10.1080/01292986.2017.1365914.Google Scholar

Jones, D. C., Vigfusdottir, T. H., & Lee, Y. (2004). Body image and the appearance culture among adolescent girls and boys: An examination of friend conversations, peer criticism, appearance magazines, and the internalization of appearance ideals. Journal of Adolescent Research, 19(3), 323–339. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558403258847.CrossRef Google Scholar

Wang, Y., Fardouly, J., Vartanian, L. R., Wang, X., & Lei, L. (2022). Body talk on social networking sites and cosmetic surgery consideration among Chinese young adults: A serial mediation model based on objectification theory. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 46(1), 99–110. https://doi.org/10.1177/03616843211026273.CrossRef Google Scholar

Wang, Y., Geng, J., Di, K., Chu, X., & Lei, L. (2022). Body talk on social network sites and body dissatisfaction among college students: The mediating roles of appearance ideals internalization and appearance comparison. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 16(3), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2022-32.CrossRef Google Scholar

Wang, Y., Wang, J., Geng, J., Wang, H., & Lei, L. (2023). Body talk on social networking sites and restrained eating among adolescents: A test of a multiple mediation model. Body Image, 45, 145–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.03.002.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Wang, Y., Wang, X., Yang, J., Zeng, P., & Lei, L. (2020). Body talk on social networking sites, body surveillance, and body shame among young adults: The roles of self-compassion and gender. Sex Roles, 82(11–12), 731–742. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-019-01084-2.CrossRef Google Scholar

Wang, Y., Yang, J., Wang, J., Yin, L., & Lei, L. (2022). Body talk on social networking sites and body dissatisfaction among young women: A moderated mediation model of peer appearance pressure and self-compassion. Current Psychology, 41, 1584–1594. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00704-5.CrossRef Google Scholar

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