Exploratory Factor Analyses of the Female and Male Body Checking Questionnaires in Collegiate Athletes Original Research
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Keywords
Body image, Disordered eating, Psychometrics
Abstract
Introduction: Collegiate athletes have demonstrated heightened risk for disordered eating and body image concerns, yet many body checking questionnaires have been developed and validated in clinical and non-clinical adult populations which reflects a gap in measures for the athlete population.
Methods: Collegiate athletes (n = 174; 86 females, 84 males, and 4 non-binary) completed both the Body Checking Questionnaire (BCQ) and the Male Body Checking Questionnaire (MBCQ) using online survey software. Exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) were performed on each questionnaire to assess their psychometric properties in our mixed-gender sample. An item-reduction technique was then performed on each questionnaire to explore more manageable and relevant sets of items in our sample.
Results: A reduced-item BCQ (12 items) yielded a two-factor structure, comparison and checking behaviors, while maintaining high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.918 and McDonald’s ω = 0.921). For the MBCQ, an 11-item measure (removed 8 items) yielded three factors, comparison, flexing, and asking/seeking behaviors, while maintaining high internal consistency (α = 0.903 and ω = 0.913).
Conclusions: The original and reduced-item questionnaires maintained their psychometric integrity when administered to college athletes regardless of gender, potentially reflecting an evolving consciousness of cultural and societal norms around athlete body image.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright, 2026 by the authors. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Stephen M. Cirella Jr., University of Rhode Island
Graduate student in the Couple and Family Therapy program at the University of Rhode Island.
Mark E. Hartman, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN, USA
Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Human Sciences at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN, USA
Lisa L. Harlow, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
Professor Emerita of Psychology at the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
Melissa T. Lodge, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
PhD in Health Sciences, concentration in Kinesiology, at the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
Kathleen S. Webster, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
Associate teaching professor in the department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA