Breast cancer (BC) may cause problems on body perception and awareness which can be perceived as a threat on body attitude among women with breast cancer.

The Body Attitude Test (BAT) assesses subjective attitude toward women's own body.

The aim of the present study was to develop the Turkish version of the BAT and examine its reliability and validity.

The study group (SD) consisted of 72 women diagnosed with BC while 100 healthy women (HW). The women evaluated by BAT, Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) and Self Esteem Inventory (SEI) in 7–10 days intervals. Internal consistency was determined with Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Factor analysis was conducted on BAT ratings given by control group.

The mean age was 43.7 ± 8.76 of women with BC while 46.4 ± 10.84 in HW. Mean duration of cancer was 2.4 ± 0.7 years. Factor analysis showed BAT was composed of two factors as body dissatisfaction and lack of familiarity with one's body. The BAT demonstrates satisfactory level of internal reliability (α = 0.932). BAT was related with EDI subscales: drive for thinness (r = 0.741, P < 0.001), ineffectiveness (r = 0.736, P < 0.001) and body dissatisfaction (P = 0.718, P < 0.001) and SEI subscale: familial self-esteem (r = -0.629, P < 0.001).

The results support the validity and reliability of BAT which is able to differentiate the clinical and non-clinical form of subjective attitude toward women's own body. Turkish version of BAT could be used as an appropriate measure for assessing subjective attitude towards own body in women with and without breast cancer in Turkey.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.