Perceived Physical Appearance: Assessing Measurement Equivalence in Black, Latino, and White Adolescents

Abstract

Objective This aim of this study was to examine whether the construct of physical appearance perception differed among the three largest racial/ethnic groups in the United States using an adolescent sample. Methods Black (46%), Latino (31%), and White (23%) adolescents in Grade 10 from the Healthy Passages study (N = 4,005) completed the Harter’s Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents–Physical Appearance Scale (SPPA–PA) as a measure of physical appearance perception. Results Overall, Black adolescents had a more positive self-perception of their physical appearance than Latino and White adolescents. However, further analysis using measurement invariance testing revealed that the construct of physical appearance perception, as measured by SPPA–PA, was not comparable across the three racial/ethnic groups in both males and females. Conclusions These results suggest that observed differences may not reflect true differences in perceptions of physical appearance. Measures that are equivalent across racial/ethnic groups should be developed to ensure more precise measurement and understanding.