The “Body Image Control in Photos questionnaire” (BICP): A new tool for the analysis of self presentation of body image on Facebook during adolescence

Introduction. Research on self-presentation in social networks has neglected the selection and management of photographs posted on people’s profiles. The aim of the present study is to build and validate a new tool to investigate body image control behavior in photos posted on Facebook. Methods. A questionnaire was built and administered to 478 Italian adolescents (219 females and 259 males), aged from 12 to 19 years old. Psychometric properties were investigated; explorative and confirmative factor analyses were carried out. Results. The questionnaire presented good psychometric properties: Section I and Section II showed a good internal reliability. The five factors that emerged from the explorative factorial analysis, verified by the confirmative factor analysis, evidenced a good internal reliability. Conclusions. These factors describe important dimensions of the selection process and management of photos to post on Facebook, such as correcting and improving your body image. Therefore the proposed instrument would be useful to better understand the process of mentalization of the body.