Supervisors info:
Βενετία - Σοφία Βελονάκη, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Αθηνά Καλοκαιρινού, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Παρασκευή Αποστολάρα, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΠΑΔΑ
Summary:
Introduction: The Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS) is a widely used
tool to measure an individual’s appreciation of their body for its functional abilities,
that means, their functionality appreciation. The aim of this study was to examine the
psychometric properties of the Greek version of the FAS in adults in Greece and to
explore the factors that influence functionality appreciation.
Methodology: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted using a
convenience sample. Inclusion criteria included being ≥18 years old and fluent in
Greek. The study was conducted online between April and May 2024. The anonymous
questionnaire included questions about demographics (age, gender, height, weight,
educational level, sexual orientation, etc.) and other characteristics of participants
(mobility impairment, chronic illness, eating disorders, social media use, physical
activity), the FAS for assessing functionality appreciation, the Body Appreciation
Scale-2 (BAS-2) for assessing body appreciation, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
(RSES) for self-esteem, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS-5) for life
satisfaction. Additionally, a test-retest was conducted with a 2-week interval in a
convenience sample of adults from the general population in Greece. Data were
analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics v.26.
Results: A total of 375 adults participated in the study (278 women and 97
men). Participants ranged from 19 to 88 years old (M = 35.61, SD = 14.72) and had a
self-reported Body Mass Index (BMI) ranging from 15.62 to 43.54 kg/m² (M = 24.05,
SD = 4.51). The majority of the sample resided in urban areas (94.67%), held a
university degree or were undergraduate students (41.3%), were employed full-time
(56.3%), and reported being single (61.3%) and heterosexual (88.8%). The FAS scores
supported, through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), a unidimensional model of FAS
scores, retaining all 7 items. Construct validity was demonstrated (Chi-Square χ² (21)
= 61429.82, p-value < 0.001, and KMO = 0.91) via significant strong positive
correlations between functionality appreciation and body appreciation, self-esteem, and
life satisfaction. Scores achieved gender invariance, with men scoring higher than
women, though the difference was not statistically significant. The FAS scores
demonstrated adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.90). In the test-retest
reliability analysis, conducted with 129 participants over a 2-week interval, the scale
showed sufficient reliability (ICC = 0.73), with no statistically significant differences
between responses at the two time points (Z = -0.044, p-value = 0.965).
Conclusion: The exploration of adult perceptions of functionality appreciation
in Greece confirms that the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS) is a valid and
reliable psychometric tool. This provides the opportunity for future intervention studies
in Greek-speaking adults and specific population groups in Greece to include the
assessment of body functionality appreciation.
Keywords:
Functionality appreciation scale (FAS), Functionality appreciation, Psychometric properties, Greece
