Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS)

Table of Contents

The Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS) is a 16-item self-report measure that assesses fear of situations in which one’s appearance will be evaluated. The SAAS was developed by Hart, Wearing, and Newlove (1999) to measure social anxiety in situations where appearance is evaluated. The SAAS has been shown to be a valid and reliable measure of social appearance anxiety in a variety of populations, including adults, adolescents, and people with eating disorders.

The SAAS is a 16-item self-report measure that asks respondents to rate their anxiety in a variety of situations where their appearance may be evaluated. The items on the SAAS are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely). The SAAS yields a total score, which can range from 16 to 80. Higher scores on the SAAS indicate greater social appearance anxiety.

The SAAS has been shown to be a valid and reliable measure of social appearance anxiety. The SAAS has good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity. The SAAS has also been shown to be sensitive to change over time.

The SAAS has been used to study social appearance anxiety in a variety of populations. The SAAS has been used to study social appearance anxiety in adults, adolescents, and people with eating disorders. The SAAS has also been used to study the relationship between social appearance anxiety and other psychological variables, such as body image dissatisfaction, social anxiety, and depression.

The SAAS is a useful tool for assessing social appearance anxiety. The SAAS is a valid and reliable measure of social appearance anxiety that has been used to study social appearance anxiety in a variety of populations.

some additional details about the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS):

  • The SAAS was developed by Hart, Wearing, and Newlove (1999) to measure social anxiety in situations where appearance is evaluated.
  • The SAAS is a 16-item self-report measure that asks respondents to rate their anxiety in a variety of situations where their appearance may be evaluated.
  • The items on the SAAS are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely).
  • The SAAS yields a total score, which can range from 16 to 80. Higher scores on the SAAS indicate greater social appearance anxiety.
  • The SAAS has been shown to be a valid and reliable measure of social appearance anxiety. The SAAS has good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity. The SAAS has also been shown to be sensitive to change over time.
  • The SAAS has been used to study social appearance anxiety in a variety of populations. The SAAS has been used to study social appearance anxiety in adults, adolescents, and people with eating disorders. The SAAS has also been used to study the relationship between social appearance anxiety and other psychological variables, such as body image dissatisfaction, social anxiety, and depression.

References

  • Hart, S. L., Wearing, S. L., & Newlove, T. (1999). Development and examination of the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 13(2), 143-165.
  • Stopa, L., & Waters, A. (2002). The Social Appearance Anxiety Scale: Further examination of its psychometric properties. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 16(6), 747-761.
  • Tiggemann, M., & Brooks, J. (2001). Body image and social anxiety in adolescent girls. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 50(5), 421-429.
  • Williamson, D. A., Netemeyer, R. G., & Muller, D. J. (1991). Development and validation of a body image avoidance questionnaire. Journal of Personality Assessment, 57(3), 263-277.

1. I feel comfortable with the way I appear to others.
2. I feel nervous when ha‎ving my picture taken.
3. I get tense when it is obvious people are looking at me.
4. I am concerned people would not like me because of the way I look.
5. I worry that others talk about flaws in my appearance when I am not around.
6. I am concerned people will find me unappealing because of my appearance.
7. I am afraid that people find me unattractive.
8. I worry that my appearance will make life more difficult for me.
9. I am concerned that I have missed out on opportunities because of my appearance.
10. I get nervous when talking to people because of the way I look.
11. I feel anxious when other people say something about my appearance.
12. I am frequently afraid I would not meet others’ standards of how I should look.
13. I worry people will judge the way I look negatively.
14. I am uncomfortable when I think others are noticing flaws in my appearance.
15. I worry that a romantic partner will/would leave me because of my appearance.
16. I am concerned that people think I am not good looking.
 This instrument can be found on page 53 of “Development and Examinationof the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale”‚ available online at:  http://www.personal.kent.edu/ch‎ardfresco/Fresco_Papers/Hart_et_al_2008_Assessment.pdf
 
1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely)
Item 1 is reverse-coded.
 

Hart‚ Trevor A.‚ Flora‚ David B.‚ Palyo‚ Sarah A.‚ Fresco‚ David M.‚ Holle‚ Christian and Heimberg‚ Rich‎ard G .(2008). Development and Examination of the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale .Assessment‚ Volume 15(1)‚ 48-59

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