Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the attitudes toward obese persons scale and the beliefs about obese persons scale

Abstract

Object: The 20-item Attitudes toward Obese Persons Scale (ATOP) and the 8-item Beliefs about Obese Persons Scale (BAOP) are used in English speaking countries to measure attitudes and beliefs about obese persons. The purpose of this study was to test the validity and reliability of the ATOP and the BAOP in Turkish language.

Methods: It is a methodological study. The study was conducted in Celal Bayar University. The study subjects comprised of 103 School of Health, 105 Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 94 School of Physical Education, and Sports students. The data were collected by a questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic characteristics, the level of obesity knowledge and the Turkish version of the ATOP (T-ATOP) and the Turkish version of the BAOP (T-BAOP). The psychometric properties of both scales were examined by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, intra-rater reliability. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients and Spearman Brown split-half were used to assess internal consistency reliability of the scales. Intra-rater reliability of the scales was examined by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).

Results: Three factors (i.e., Different Personality, Social Difficulties, and Self-Esteem) of the T-ATOP were established by exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated three-factor structure. Internal consistency was supported by Cronbach’s alpha (0.86), Spearman Brown split-half value (0.75 for the first half) and (0.72 for the second half), and intra-rater reliability (ICC=0.78). The results of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the T-BAOP has a structure of the one factor. As for internal consistency of T-BAOP, it was supported by Cronbach’s alpha (0.84), Spearman Brown split-half value (0.79 for the first half and 0.74 for the second half) and intra-rater reliability (ICC=0.80).

Conclusions: The T-ATOP and the T-BAOP showed initial evidence of the reliability and validity that can be used in Turkish speaking countries in order to measure attitudes and beliefs about obese persons.