Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Body Perception Questionnaire.

Background/Objective: The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally adapt the Body Perception Questionnaire Short Form (BPQ-SF) into Italian and to assess its psychometric properties in a sample of Italian subjects. Methods: A forward-backward method was used for translation. 493 adults were recruited for psychometric analysis. Structural validity was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis and a hypothesis testing approach. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. Measurement invariance analysis was applied with an age-matched American sample. Results: The single-factor structure fit the awareness subscale (RMSEA =.036, CFI =.983, TLI =.982). Autonomic reactivity (ANSR) was well-described by supra- and sub-diaphragmatic subscales (RMSEA =.041, CFI =.984, TLI =.982). All subscales were positively correlated (r range:.50-.56) and had good internal consistency (McDonald's Omega range:.86-.92, Cronbach's alpha range:.88-.91). Measurement invariance analysis for the Awareness model showed significant results (p<0.001) in each step (weak, strong and strict) whereas the ANSR showed significant results (p<0.001) only for the strong and strict steps. Conclusions: Our results support the Italian version of the BPQ as having consistent psychometric properties in comparison with other languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]