Weight-Based Teasing Scale – WBTS
Measures the frequency of weight-based teasing and related peer harassment experiences.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Weight-Based Teasing Scale – WBTS was developed by Eisenberg, M. E., Neumark-Sztainer, D., & Perry, C. L. (2003). It is designed to measure Weight-based teasing and peer harassment. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 5 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Never, 1 = Less than once a year, 2 = A few times a year, 3 = A few times a month, 4 = At least once a week.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 20. Interpretation guidelines:
- No teasing experienced: 0 – 0
- Infrequent teasing: 1 – 5
- Moderate teasing: 6 – 12
- Frequent teasing: 13 – 20
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 2 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.