Body image concern in women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS): A comparative analysis of two assessment tools
Aspasia Manta, Sophie Broughton, Shams Ali Baig, Eleni Armeni, Punith KempegowdaAbstract
Objective
Body image dissatisfaction is common in women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), yet optimal assessment tools remain unclear. This study compared the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI) and the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire – Appearance Scales (MBSRQ-AS) in women with PMOS, evaluating agreement, reliability, and associations with clinical and demographic characteristics.
Design
This was a multicentre cross-sectional observational study.
Methods
A total of 163 women were recruited from specialist clinics and community settings in the UK between June 2023 and October 2024. Body image was assessed using the BICI and MBSRQ-AS, alongside clinical and sociodemographic variables. Internal consistency, correlations, and multivariable regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations and predictors of clinically significant body image concern.
Results
The BICI was significantly associated with body mass index and hirsutism scores. Higher body mass index was associated with worse scores across the MBSRQ-AS subscales. BICI scores correlated negatively with Appearance Evaluation and Body Areas Satisfaction and positively with Overweight Preoccupation and Appearance Orientation (all p<0.001). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that MBSRQ-AS scores explained additional variance in the BICI scores beyond clinical features, indicating distinct contributions to body image assessment.
Conclusion
Both tools capture distinct dimensions of body image in women with PMOS. The selection of assessment tools should be context-driven to optimally address body image concerns in this population.