Adaptação transcultural e avaliação psicométrica da Female Muscularity Scale: uma análise em mulheres brasileiras fisicamente ativas e insuficientemente ativas

Abstract

Researches focused on the female cultural ideals of muscularity has grown in recent years, but the lack of specific instruments to evaluate muscularity concerns seems to hamper the scientific advance in this study area. Measurement instruments are essential for clinical practice, evaluation, and health research. However, it is necessary that these instruments present good evidence of validity and reliability so that they can be used by clinicians and researchers. Thus, the present study aimed to perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the Female Muscularity Scale (FMS) to the Portuguese language (Brazil) - instrument designed specifically for women, capable of assessing muscularity concerns related to the lean and athletic female ideal-body, and to evaluate psychometric properties of the scale when applied to Brazilian women. This dissertation is presented containing two articles: Article A - entitled “Drive for muscularity em mulheres: Uma revisão sistemática” and Article B – entitled “Adaptação transcultural e avaliação psicométrica da Female Muscularity Scale (FMS) para mulheres brasileiras fisicamente ativas e insuficientemente ativas”. Article A presents a systematic review on muscularity concerns in women. Twenty five articles were analysed and the results showed that there was association between muscularity concerns and low self-esteem, depressive symptoms, body-ideal internalization, body checking and avoidance behaviours and disordered eating. Article B outlined the methodological procedures of cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric analysis of the FMS for Brazilian women, following the guidelines of Beaton et al. (2000). Physically active and insufficiently active women between 18 and 35 years took part in the study. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. The Brazilian version of the FMS presented good evidence of factorial, convergent, concurrent and discriminant validity, as well as good reliability (adequate estimated internal consistency) and temporal stability (test-retest). It is concluded that the FMS is a scale capable of assessing muscularity concern in physically active and insufficiently active Brazilian women.