Validation of the weight self-stigma questionnaire in a polish sample: Factor structure and measurement invariance by gender

StatusVoR
Simple item page
cris.lastimport.scopus2025-08-31T03:13:37Z
dc.abstract.enBackground: This cross-sectional study aimed to confirm the factorial structure of the Polish Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) and to test structural validity, internal consistency and measurement invariance of the questionnaire across gender, Body Mass Index (BMI) and other psychological measures. Methods: The sample was recruited from the general Polish population (N = 1055), age 18–55. Participants completed the WSSQ, The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS 2.0), Emotional Eating and Restrained Eating subscales from The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21 (DASS-21) and sociodemographic survey. Results: The Polish WSSQ showed good overlap with the original structure in the two-factor model (Self-devaluation and Fear of Enacted Stigma). Factor loadings were satisfactory and both subscales showed good internal consistency. The scale demonstrated metric, but not scalar, measurement invariance by gender. The construct validity was confirmed with strong correlations with emotional eating and food addiction. As expected, the WSSQ total score was moderately positively associated with depression and stress severity. The correlations were the weakest for restrained eating and body mass index. Conclusion: The Polish WSSQ is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of weight-related self-stigma among patients with overweight/obesity. Men and women can be compared when examining association of WSSQ with other measures but gender differences on the WSSQ itself should be interpreted with caution. Future studies should further investigate potential gender differences as well as the test-retest reliability and longitudinal invariance.
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii w Katowicach
dc.contributor.authorRóżycka, Jagoda
dc.contributor.authorNowacki, Ari
dc.contributor.authorŁukowska, Marta
dc.contributor.authorSokołowska, Maryla
dc.contributor.authorZielińska, Joanna
dc.contributor.authorDuszkiewicz, Roksana
dc.contributor.authorStojek, Monika M.
dc.date.access2025-06-14
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-01T11:57:44Z
dc.date.available2025-08-01T11:57:44Z
dc.date.created2025-06-13
dc.date.issued2025-06-27
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.grantnumber2021/41/B/HS6/04029
dc.description.granttitleZwiązek pomiędzy symptomami PTSD, zachowaniami żywieniowymi i zdrowiem fizycznym: Korelaty zapalne, kardiometaboliczne, i psychofizjologiczne
dc.description.physical1-8
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume195
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.jpsychores.2025.112186
dc.identifier.issn0022-3999
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/1633
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022399925001503?via%3Dihub
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enWeight self-stigma
dc.subject.enObesity
dc.subject.enPsychological assessment
dc.subject.enMental health
dc.subject.enConfirmatory factor analysis
dc.swps.sciencecloudnosend
dc.titleValidation of the weight self-stigma questionnaire in a polish sample: Factor structure and measurement invariance by gender
dc.title.journalJournal of Psychosomatic Research
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle