Physical Appearance Reasons for Tanning Scale (PARTS)

Abstract

The Physical Appearance Reasons for Tanning Scale (PARTS) is a comprehensive psychometric instrument designed to assess the specific appearance-related motives underlying an individual’s decision to engage in or avoid tanning behaviors, including both sunbathing and indoor tanning. Developed by Cafri and colleagues in 2006, PARTS moves beyond general measures of body dissatisfaction by focusing explicitly on the perceived benefits (e.g., attractiveness, muscle tone, acne reduction) and perceived risks (e.g., aging, skin damage) associated with a tanned appearance. The scale also incorporates items measuring the powerful influence of sociocultural factors, such as media, family, and peers, on tanning motivation. This instrument is crucial for research into the etiology of high-risk skin cancer behaviors and for developing targeted interventions aimed at promoting sun safety.

Keywords

Tanning motivation, Body image, Sun exposure, Indoor tanning, Appearance reasons, Skin cancer prevention, Sociocultural influence, Psychometrics, PARTS.

Authors

Guy Cafri, Joel K. Thompson, Martha Roehrig, Patricia van den Berg, Paul B. Jacobsen, Scott Stark.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Physical Appearance Reasons for Tanning Scale (PARTS) is to provide a detailed, multidimensional measure of the cognitive and affective reasons individuals cite for pursuing or avoiding a tan. Prior research often treated tanning behavior as a simple aesthetic choice; PARTS systematically dissects the complex underlying motivations, recognizing that tanning is often driven by specific goals related to improving perceived attractiveness, concealing flaws (like acne or stretch marks), or adhering to social norms perpetuated by media and peers. By clearly delineating these motivations, the scale allows researchers to investigate which specific appearance motives are most strongly linked to risky behaviors, such as frequent indoor tanning or unprotected sunbathing.

The scale is also designed to incorporate measures of perceived threat regarding skin damage and cancer risk, offering a holistic view of the factors that both encourage and inhibit tanning behaviors. The original PDF for the scale development can be accessed here: Cafri et al 2006.

Construct

The core construct measured by PARTS is the multifaceted nature of appearance-contingent motivation for tanning. It operationalizes this construct across several distinct dimensions, which fall broadly into reasons to tan and reasons not to tan, as well as sociocultural influences and perceived health threat. These dimensions highlight that tanning behavior is maintained not just by internal desires for a better appearance, but also by external, perceived pressures and rewards.

The subscales address specific psychological pathways: for instance, the “Body Shape” subscale links tanning to body dissatisfaction, where a tan is perceived to increase muscle tone or reduce the appearance of fat. Conversely, the “Aging” subscale captures the cognitive dissonance between the desire for a tan and the fear of long-term dermatological consequences, such as premature wrinkling or skin cancer risk. The comprehensive nature of these subscales makes PARTS a robust tool for analyzing the interplay between body image concerns and health-risk behaviors.

Validity

The initial validation study conducted by Cafri et al. (2006) established strong evidence for the structural and predictive validity of the PARTS instrument. Factor analysis confirmed the proposed multidimensional structure, successfully separating reasons to tan (which often load together as positive appearance motives) from reasons not to tan (negative appearance and health motives). The scale demonstrated good convergent validity, showing expected positive correlations between the appearance motivation subscales and established measures of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating (e.g., drive for thinness, body-related self-consciousness).

Crucially, the PARTS subscales showed predictive validity by significantly correlating with self-reported tanning behaviors and intentions. Specifically, appearance motives were strong predictors of both sunbathing and indoor tanning intentions, even when controlling for perceived health risks, underscoring the powerful role of aesthetic motivation in overriding health concerns.

Reliability

The internal consistency reliability of the PARTS subscales was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients in the developmental study. The key subscales related to appearance reasons to tan generally exhibited high levels of reliability, indicating that the items within each factor measure the intended construct consistently. For example, subscales like “General Appearance,” “Acne,” and “Body Shape” typically yield alpha coefficients well above the standard threshold of 0.70, often ranging into the high 0.80s and 0.90s, suggesting excellent internal consistency among the items measuring positive tanning motives. The reliability of the “Reasons Not to Tan” subscales (e.g., Immediate Skin Damage and Aging) also demonstrated acceptable to good consistency.

Factor Analysis

The development of PARTS involved rigorous statistical procedures, including both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), to determine the optimal factor structure. The final model supported a hierarchical structure of appearance motives for tanning, divided into two primary sections: Reasons to Tan and Reasons Not to Tan. The Reasons to Tan section typically resolved into distinct subscales such as: General Attractiveness, Body Shape/Tone, Acne Concealment, and various Sociocultural Influences (Media, Family, Friends, Significant Other). The Reasons Not to Tan section was typically divided into factors relating to Immediate Skin Damage (e.g., sunburn, peeling) and Long-Term Aging Concerns (e.g., wrinkles, premature aging). This refined factor structure confirmed that tanning motivation is not unitary but is driven by a distinct set of physical and social goals.

Instrument

Test Type: Psychometric self-report scale measuring appearance motives for tanning and tanning-related risk perceptions.

Format: Multiple items rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1=Definitely Disagree to 5=Definitely Agree. Some behavioral and risk perception items use alternative formats (e.g., frequency estimates, multiple-choice skin type identification).

Language Available: English (Original development).

Population Group: General population, primarily adolescents and young adults who engage in tanning behaviors.

Age Group: Typically utilized in studies focusing on late adolescence through young adulthood.

Population Details: Originally validated on college students, but applicable to any population segment concerned with appearance-based tanning.

Test Methodology: Self-administered questionnaire, usually completed in a research setting or online format.

Keywords

PARTS, Skin tone, Appearance motivation, Sociocultural norms, Sunbathing, Indoor tanning, Risk perception, Body image disturbance, Skin cancer risk, Cosmetic appearance.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in source materials.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not specified in source materials.

Correspondence Address: Guy Cafri (likely affiliated with the University of South Florida at the time of publication).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was developed and published in 2006. It is generally available for non-commercial research use, often accessible through the authors’ academic research groups. Researchers should contact the primary authors (Guy Cafri or Joel K. Thompson) for formal permission regarding specific research applications or commercial use.

Reference’s

• Cafri, G., Thompson, J.K., Roehrig, M., van den Berg, P., Jacobsen, P.B. & Stark, S. (2006). An Investigation of Appearance Motives for Tanning: The Development and Evaluation of the Physical Appearance Reasons for Tanning Scale (PARTS) and Its Relation to Sunbathing and Indoor Tanning Intentions.

  Body Image

  , 3, 199-209.

• Cafri, Guy, “Investigating the role of appearance-based factors in predicting sunbathing and tanning salon use” (2008). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/156

Items of the Physical Appearance Reasons for Tanning Scale (PARTS)

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

1) I tan because it makes me more attractive.

2) I tan because it makes me look better.

3) I tan because it makes me more confident in my appearance.

4) The tanner I am‚ the more attractive I feel.

5) ha‎ving a tan gives me more sex appeal.

6) I wish I had a tan like the people on TV.

7) I want to be as tan as people in magazines.

8) I try to be as tan as people in movies.

9) I would like my skin tone to be darker like people in TV and movies.

10) I try to have a tan like famous people I see in magazines.

11) I wish I was as tan as celebrities in the media.

12) I try to get a tan because my family members say it is attractive.

13) I want to be tan because my family members think it makes me look healthier.

14) I want a tan because people in my family think it makes my skin look nice.

15) A tan gives my body the appearance of ha‎ving more muscle tone.

16) A tan helps me look like I’m in good physical shape.

17) I tan because it helps me look in shape.

18) I look like I have less fat on my body when I am tan.

19) The more tan I am‚ the more physically fit I look.

20) I tan because it helps reduce the amount of acne on my face and body.

21) Tan skin helps me cover up acne-related scars.

22) I tan before a big social event because it helps reduce the appearance of acne.

23) The less tan I am‚ the more I’m worried about my acne showing.

24) When I am tan‚ I feel less concerned about the appearance of acne.

25) I don’t tan because it will age my skin quicker.

26) I’m hesitant to tan because it will wrinkle my skin.

27) I don’t tan as much as I would like because I’m worried about premature skin aging.

Scale Response Format: 1=Definitely Disagree‚ 2=Somewhat Disagree‚ 3=Neither Agree nor Disagree‚ 4=Somewhat Agree‚ 5=Definitely Agree

APPEARANCE REASONS TO TAN (Extended List from Source)

General

1. ha‎ving a tan gives me more sex appeal.
2. I tan because it makes me more attractive.
3. I tan because it makes me look better.
4. I tan because it makes me more confident in my appearance.
5. I feel more confident in my appearance when I am tan.
6. I tan before a big social event because it makes me feel more attractive.
7. The tanner I am‚ the more attractive I feel.
8. I tan to avoid looking pale.
9. I tan because it adds a nice glow to my appearance.

Acne

1. When I am tan‚ I feel less concerned about the appearance of acne.
2. The less tan I am the more I’m worried about my acne showing.
3. I tan because it helps reduce the amount of acne on my face and body.
4. Tan skin helps me cover up acne-related scars.

Body shape

1. I look like I have less fat on my body when I am tan.
2. The more tan I am the more physically fit I look.
3. A tan gives my body the appearance of ha‎ving more muscle tone.
4. A tan helps me look like I’m in good physical shape.
5. I look slimmer with a tan.
6. Being tan conceals my appearance of stretch marks.

APPEARANCE REASONS NOT TO TAN

Immediate Skin Damage

1. I’m concerned about getting blemished skin as a result of tanning.
2. I’m concerned about freckling from tanning.
3. The appearance of a sunburn makes me look unattractive.
4. Getting sunspots worries me.
5. I’m concerned about my skin peeling after too much tanning.
6. I’m concerned about the appearance of rough or leathery skin from tanning.

Aging

1. I don’t tan as much as I would like because I’m worried about premature skin aging.
2. I don’t tan because it will age my skin quicker.
3. I’m hesitant to tan because it will wrinkle my skin.

SOCIOCULTURAL INFLUENCES

Media

1. I try to have a tan like famous people I see in magazines.
2. I wish I was as tan as celebrities in the media.
3. I want to be as tan as TV stars.
4. I wish I had a tan like people on TV.
5. I want to be as tan as people in magazines.
6. I try to be as tan as people in movies.
7. I would like my skin tone to be darker like people in TV and movies.

Friends

1. I like to be as tan as my friends.
2. Positive appearance comments from my friends make me want to tan more.
3. I receive negative appearance comments from my friends when I am not tan.
4. My friends say I look good when I am tan.

Family

1. I want a tan because people in my family think it makes my skin look nice.
2. I try to get a tan because my family members say it is attractive.
3. I want to be tan because my family members think it makes me look healthier.

Significant Other

1. My boyfriend/girlfriend likes the way I look when I am tan.
2. Comments about my appearance from my boyfriend/girlfriend encourage me to tan.

PERCEIVED THREAT

Perceived Susceptibility

1. If you DON’T use sun protection‚ how susceptible do you feel you are to skin cancer?
2. The possibility of skin cancer worries me.
3. Whenever I hear of a friend or relative (or public figure) getting skin cancer‚ it makes me realize that I could get it too.
4. I don’t need to worry about getting skin cancer until I am much older.

Perceived Severity

1. It would be terrible to get a malignant tumor on my skin.
2. Getting skin cancer would severely affect my life.
3. It would be terrible to have skin cancer.

TANNING INTENTIONS AND BEHAVIORS

1. Please give me your best estimate of how many times you have indoor tanned in the last 6 months
2. Please give me your best estimate of how many times you have sunbathed in the last 6 months
3. Please give me your best estimate of how many times you plan to use an indoor tanning salon in the next 6 months
4. Please give me your best estimate of how many times you plan to sunbathe in the next 6 months

SKIN CANCER RISK (SKIN TYPE)

1. If you were to lie in the sun for one hour UNPROTECTED (no sunscreen‚ no protective clothing‚ etc.) in the early summer when you had NO tan‚ your skin would: (mark the best answer)
2. What is the color of your untanned skin?