Weight stigma exposure inventory (WeSEI): Validity and reliability study of the Chinese version in Hong Kong

Ji-Kang Chen; Oscar Rhodes; Chia-Wei Fan; Kerry M. O’Brien; Ali Gökalp; Nail Değirmenci; Chung-Ying Lin

doi:10.29329/jsomer.47

Authors

Ji-Kang Chen Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7762-3888
Oscar Rhodes Universitat de València, Spain
Chia-Wei Fan AdventHealth University, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8534-4934
Kerry M. O’Brien Monash University, Australia
Ali Gökalp Gaziantep University, Türkiye
Nail Değirmenci Gazi University, Türkiye
Chung-Ying Lin National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2129-4242

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29329/jsomer.47

Keywords:

Hong Kong, Weight self-stigma, Perceived weight stigmatization, Psychometric testing, Weight stigma exposure inventory

Abstract

This study examined the validity and reliability of the Weight Stigma Exposure Inventory (WeSEI), Chinese version, among the Hong Kong population. The WeSEI was developed by Ruckwongpatr et al. (2025) and then translated by the present authors to Chinese for the Hong Kong population. The study recruited 949 Hong Kong adults (Mean_age = 23.07; 68.6% female) to complete the 35-item WeSEI, a self-report instrument with seven factors (television sources, traditional media sources, social media sources, parental sources, extraneous sources, significant other sources, and friends sources). The seven factors assess how participants observed (or were exposed to) weight stigma from different sources. The psychometric properties of the scale analyzed in the present study included factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency using McDonald's ω and Cronbach's α, discriminant validity using heterotrait-monotrait (HTMT) ratio, and convergent validity using average variance extracted (AVE) values. Pearson correlations with related measures, such as the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport (TAPAS), Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), and Perceived Weight Stigmatization Scale (PWSS), were used to assess WeSEI’s concurrent validity. The findings indicate that the WeSEI has a confirmed seven-factor structure, possesses high internal consistency, and exhibits acceptable convergent and discriminant validity. The WeSEI total score and its subscale scores showed statistically positive correlations with the other measures used. The WeSEI Chinese version can be used as a valid and reliable self-report psychometric tool for assessing Hong Kong participants' exposure to weight stigma in future research.

Author Biographies

Ji-Kang Chen, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Department of Social Work

Oscar Rhodes, Universitat de València, Spain

Departament d'Educació Física i Esportiva

Chia-Wei Fan, AdventHealth University, USA

Department of Occupational Therapy

Kerry M. O’Brien, Monash University, Australia

School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts

Ali Gökalp, Gaziantep University, Türkiye

Department of Educational Sciences,

Nail Değirmenci, Gazi University, Türkiye

Institute of Educational Sciences

Chung-Ying Lin, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan

Institute of Allied Health Sciences

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