Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R)

Abstract

The Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R) is a validated, 40-item psychological scale designed to measure the frequency with which individuals engage in comparisons of their physical appearance with that of others in various social contexts. This self-report instrument serves as a critical tool for researchers and clinicians studying the relationship between social comparison and body image disturbance. The PACS-R specifically assesses comparisons across multiple dimensions, including weight, body size, body shape, body fat, and overall appearance, providing a detailed profile of comparison tendencies that contribute to body dissatisfaction and related psychopathology.

Keywords

Physical appearance comparison, body image, body dissatisfaction, social comparison theory, psychological scale, eating disorders, body size, body shape, J. Kevin Thompson, Lauren M. Schaefer.

Authors

Lauren M. Schaefer, J. Kevin Thompson.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the PACS-R is to provide a reliable and comprehensive measure of the frequency and scope of physical appearance comparisons, which is a key cognitive mechanism implicated in the development and maintenance of eating disorders and negative body image. The scale allows for the quantitative assessment of how often an individual compares specific physical attributes—such as weight or body fat—in diverse real-world settings, including public spaces, while shopping, or at the gym.

By quantifying this specific form of social comparison, the PACS-R facilitates targeted interventions and research aimed at understanding the environmental triggers and cognitive processes associated with appearance-related distress. The revised version expanded upon the original scale to ensure greater specificity regarding the comparison domains and situations, enhancing its clinical utility and psychometric properties.

Construct

The PACS-R measures the psychological construct of physical appearance comparison. This construct is rooted in social comparison theory, specifically focusing on downward or upward comparisons regarding physical attributes. The scale captures the pervasive tendency to evaluate one’s self against others based on dimensions like body shape and body size.

Unlike general measures of social comparison, the PACS-R is highly specific to appearance, reflecting the hypothesis that frequent engagement in these specific comparisons leads to heightened self-objectification and subsequent distress, particularly when comparisons are upward (i.e., comparing oneself unfavorably to perceived ideals). The 40 items cover five primary comparison targets (weight, size, shape, fat, overall appearance) across eight situational contexts (e.g., out in public, at the gym, with friends).

Validity

The validation process detailed in the seminal 2014 publication by Schaefer and Thompson demonstrated strong psychometric properties for the PACS-R. The scale exhibits excellent construct validity, consistently aligning with theoretical expectations regarding its relationship with measures of body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and other indices of eating disorder pathology.

Furthermore, the PACS-R has been shown to possess strong convergent validity, correlating significantly with other established body image scales, confirming that it accurately captures the intended construct of appearance comparison frequency. Its revision aimed to improve the differentiation of appearance comparison from general social comparison, thereby enhancing its specificity and predictive power in clinical samples.

Reliability

Reliability studies of the PACS-R, typically involving college student and adult populations, have indicated high levels of internal consistency. The scale consistently yields high Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, confirming that the 40 items reliably measure a unified, underlying tendency toward physical appearance comparison.

Test-retest reliability has also been established, demonstrating that the scores remain stable over reasonable periods, making the PACS-R suitable for longitudinal research tracking changes in comparison frequency over time or in response to therapeutic interventions.

Factor Analysis

The development and revision of the PACS-R involved rigorous factor analytic procedures, including both Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), to determine its dimensional structure. The goal was to refine the item set to ensure a clear, coherent factor structure.

While the scale covers multiple comparison targets (weight, size, shape, fat), the factor analyses generally support a strong, unidimensional structure, indicating that all 40 items contribute significantly to a single, overarching factor representing the frequency of physical appearance comparison. This unidimensionality supports the use of a single total score for clinical and research applications.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report inventory/Psychological scale

Format: 40 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale.

Language Available: English (Original development language).

Population Group: General and clinical populations concerned with body image and eating pathology.

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults.

Population Details: Originally validated using college student samples, but applicable to broader adult populations.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate how often they make specific kinds of comparisons using the following scale: Never=1, Seldom=2, Sometimes=3, Often=4, Always=5.

Keywords

Body comparison frequency, body image measurement, psychometrics, self-report, eating disorder pathology, body fat, weight comparison, scale development.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]; [email protected]

Correspondence Address: J. Kevin Thompson, Ph.D, Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, 4202 Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620-8200.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 2014 (Publication of the Revised scale).

Permissions and Access: For a copy of this measure, contact J. Kevin Thompson, Ph.D. The instrument was previously available online via the University of South Florida Body Image Research Group website: https://sites.google.com/site/bodyimageresearchgroup/measures/physical-appearance-comparison-scale-revised-pacs-r. Permissions for use should be directed to the corresponding author.

Reference’s

• Schaefer, Lauren M., & Thompson, J. Kevin. (2014). The development and validation of the Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R). Eating Behaviors. Volume 15, Issue 2, April 2014, Pages 209–217.
• Schaefer, Lauren M. (2013). The Development and Validation of the Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. University of South Florida. The original thesis can be downloaded here: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/4575

Items of the Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. When I’m out in public‚ I compare my physical appearance to the appearance of others.
2. When I meet a new person (same sex)‚ I compare my body size to his/her body size.
3. When I’m at work or school‚ I compare my body shape to the body shape of others.
4. When I’m out in public‚ I compare my body fat to the body fat of others.
5. When I’m shopping for clothes‚ I compare my weight to the weight of others.
6. When I’m at a party‚ I compare my body shape to the body shape of others.
7. When I’m at work or school‚ I compare my weight to the weight of others.
8. When I’m eating in a restaurant‚ I compare my body shape to the body shape of others.
9. When I’m with a group of friends‚ I compare my weight to the weight of others.
10. When I’m shopping for clothes‚ I compare my body fat to the body fat of others.
11. When I’m at the gym‚ I compare my body size to the body size of others.
12. When I’m at work or school‚ I compare my body size to the body size of others.
13. When I’m with a group of friends‚ I compare my body shape to the body shape of others.
14. When I’m at the gym‚ I compare my weight to the weight of others.
15. When I’m at a party‚ I compare my weight to the weight of others.
16. When I’m at the gym‚ I compare my body shape to the body shape of others.
17. When I’m shopping for clothes‚ I compare my body shape to the body shape of others.
18. When I’m with a group of friends‚ I compare my body fat to the body fat of others.
19. When I’m shopping for clothes‚ I compare my physical appearance to the physical appearance of others.
20. When I’m at a party‚ I compare my body fat to the body fat of others.
21. When I meet a new person (same sex)‚ I compare my body shape to his/her body shape.
22. When I’m at work or school‚ I compare my body fat to the body fat of others.
23. When I’m eating in a restaurant‚ I compare my physical appearance to the appearance of others.
24. When I’m at the gym‚ I compare my body fat to the body fat of others.
25. When I’m eating in a restaurant‚ I compare my body fat to the body fat of others.
26. When I’m at a party‚ I compare my body size to the body size of others.
27. When I meet a new person (same sex)‚ I compare my body fat to his/her body fat.
28. When I’m at work or school‚ I compare my physical appearance to the appearance of others.
29. When I’m with a group of friends‚ I compare my body size to the body size of others.
30. When I’m out in public‚ I compare my weight to the weight of others.
31. When I’m out in public‚ I compare my body shape to the body shape of others.
32. When I meet a new person (same sex)‚ I compare my physical appearance to his/her physical appearance.
33. When I’m with a group of friends‚ I compare my physical appearance to the appearance of others
34. When I’m at a party‚ I compare my physical appearance to the appearance of others.
35. When I meet a new person (same sex)‚ I compare my weight to his/her weight.
36. When I’m shopping for clothes‚ I compare my body size to the body size of others.
37. When I’m at the gym‚ I compare my physical appearance to the appearance of others.
38. When I’m eating in a restaurant‚ I compare my weight to the weight of others.
39. When I’m eating in a restaurant‚ I compare my body size to the body size of others.
40. When I’m out in public‚ I compare my body size to the body size of others.