Measuring Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA): Psychometric Validation and Analysis of the IBSA Scale

Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan; Heather A. Turner; David Finkelhor; Lisa M. Jones; Deirdre A. Colburn; Kimberly J. Mitchell

doi:10.1177/10775595251338188

Measuring Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA): Psychometric Validation and Analysis of the IBSA Scale

Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan
, Heather A. Turner
, David Finkelhor
, Lisa M. Jones
, Deirdre A. Colburn
, Kimberly J. Mitchell

School of Social Work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) is a growing global issue with significant psychological impacts, yet few validated tools assess childhood experiences. This study provides information on a newly developed IBSA Scale designed to capture the accumulating burden of multiple distinct dimensions of IBSA. The study included 6226 U.S. participants aged 18–28, with an oversampling of IBSA experiences (prior to age of 18) and of sexual and gender minority individuals. Psychometric evaluation involved Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were conducted to assess the scale’s structure. Convergent validity was tested using peer norms and online risky behaviors, and discriminant validity with social connectedness. EGA confirmed a cohesive structure and 100% stability of all items, confirmed by CFA (χ²(9) = 102.17, p < .01, CFI = .99, RMSEA = .041). Convergent validity was demonstrated by moderate correlations with peer norms (rmean = .41) and online risky behaviors (rmean = .24). Discriminant validity was confirmed with low correlations with social connectedness (rmean = −.06). Sociodemographic analysis revealed higher IBSA scores among females, sexual and gender minority individuals, and participants with lower-income (p < .001). The IBSA scale is a promising tool for measuring the cumulative burden of different IBSA experiences.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	274-286
Number of pages	13
Journal	Child Maltreatment
Volume	31
Issue number	2
Early online date	6 May 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595251338188
State	Published - May 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5 Gender Equality
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

image-based sexual abuse
online sexual abuse
scale development

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Developmental and Educational Psychology

Access to Document

10.1177/10775595251338188

Cite this

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title = "Measuring Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA): Psychometric Validation and Analysis of the IBSA Scale",

abstract = "Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) is a growing global issue with significant psychological impacts, yet few validated tools assess childhood experiences. This study provides information on a newly developed IBSA Scale designed to capture the accumulating burden of multiple distinct dimensions of IBSA. The study included 6226 U.S. participants aged 18{\textendash}28, with an oversampling of IBSA experiences (prior to age of 18) and of sexual and gender minority individuals. Psychometric evaluation involved Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were conducted to assess the scale{\textquoteright}s structure. Convergent validity was tested using peer norms and online risky behaviors, and discriminant validity with social connectedness. EGA confirmed a cohesive structure and 100\% stability of all items, confirmed by CFA (χ2(9) = 102.17, p < .01, CFI = .99, RMSEA = .041). Convergent validity was demonstrated by moderate correlations with peer norms (rmean = .41) and online risky behaviors (rmean = .24). Discriminant validity was confirmed with low correlations with social connectedness (rmean = −.06). Sociodemographic analysis revealed higher IBSA scores among females, sexual and gender minority individuals, and participants with lower-income (p < .001). The IBSA scale is a promising tool for measuring the cumulative burden of different IBSA experiences.",

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AU - Colburn, Deirdre A.

AU - Mitchell, Kimberly J.

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Measuring Image-Based Sexual Abuse (IBSA): Psychometric Validation and Analysis of the IBSA Scale

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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