Physical Appearance-Related Teasing Scale (PARTS)

Abstract

The Physical Appearance-Related Teasing Scale (PARTS) is a specialized psychometric instrument designed to quantify the extent and nature of teasing experienced by an individual concerning their physical appearance during childhood and adolescence. Developed by Thompson and colleagues in 1991, the scale assesses retrospective experiences of negative social feedback, focusing particularly on weight, size, and other physical attributes such as facial features or clothing. High scores on the PARTS are strongly associated with negative body image disturbances, disordered eating behaviors, and various negative psychological outcomes, positioning it as a critical tool for researchers studying the etiology of eating disorders and body dissatisfaction.

Keywords

Physical Appearance-Related Teasing Scale, PARTS, teasing, body image, weight stigma, peer victimization, childhood trauma, psychological assessment, self-esteem.

Authors

Thompson, J. K., Fabian, L. J., Moulton, D. O., Dunn, M. E., Altabe, M. N.

[quads id=5]

Purpose

The primary purpose of the PARTS is to provide a standardized, reliable measure of past negative interpersonal experiences related specifically to physical appearance. The developers recognized that general measures of peer rejection or bullying often failed to capture the unique psychological impact of teasing focused on physical attributes, which is highly relevant to the development of body dissatisfaction.

This instrument allows researchers to correlate specific experiences of appearance-related teasing with current psychological variables, such as mood states, self-worth, and the intention to engage in body change strategies. It serves as a crucial retrospective measure, helping to establish the relationship between early social environment factors and later psychological adjustment concerning appearance.

Construct

The scale measures the psychological construct of Physical Appearance-Related Teasing (PARTS), which is defined as the subjective experience of being ridiculed, mocked, or demeaned by peers or family members due to one’s size, weight, or general physical characteristics. This construct is recognized as a specific form of peer victimization.

The construct covers both explicit verbal abuse (e.g., name-calling, jokes about weight) and more subtle nonverbal cues (e.g., staring, snickering, pointing). The items are designed to capture teasing from various sources, including peers, siblings, and parents, acknowledging that family teasing can be equally detrimental to the development of a healthy body image.

Validity

The original validation study (Thompson et al., 1991) established strong construct validity for the PARTS. It demonstrated significant positive correlations with other measures of body dissatisfaction, depression, and drive for thinness, confirming that individuals reporting higher levels of teasing also exhibited greater psychological distress related to their appearance.

Furthermore, the scale exhibits good discriminative validity, successfully differentiating between clinical and non-clinical samples concerning eating pathology. The subscales derived from the factor analysis (typically weight/size teasing and general appearance teasing) show distinct patterns of correlation with related psychological measures, further supporting the scale’s structural validity.

Reliability

The PARTS has demonstrated excellent internal consistency across numerous studies, typically yielding high Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, often exceeding 0.90 for the total scale score. This indicates that the 18 items reliably measure the same underlying construct of appearance-related teasing.

Test-retest reliability, while less frequently reported, generally confirms the stability of the measure, suggesting that retrospective recall of these specific negative experiences remains consistent over reasonable time intervals in adult populations.

Factor Analysis

Original factor analysis of the PARTS, often using principal components analysis, generally supports a multi-dimensional structure, though the number of factors can vary slightly depending on the population sample.

The most robust and consistently identified factor structure involves two primary components: 1) Teasing Related to Weight and Size (items 1–11), and 2) Teasing Related to General Appearance (items 12–18), covering aspects like clothing, hair, or facial features. These factors allow researchers to distinguish between the unique psychological impact of weight-based stigma versus teasing directed at non-weight-related physical traits.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire

Format: 18 items measured on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1=Never to 5=Frequently.

Language Available: English (Primary validation language)

Population Group: Adolescents and adults retrospectively reporting childhood and adolescent experiences.

Age Group: Typically utilized in individuals aged 16 and older, assessing experiences from childhood (ages 6–18).

Population Details: Originally validated on college students, but widely applied to clinical populations, particularly those with eating disorders or high levels of body image dissatisfaction.

Test Methodology: Summation of item scores provides a total teasing score. Subscale scores (Weight/Size and General Appearance) are calculated by summing the respective item scores. Higher scores indicate more frequent experiences of physical appearance-related teasing.

Keywords

Psychological scale, retrospective measurement, body dissatisfaction, social feedback, childhood experience, weight, size, physical attributes, eating pathology, Thompson 1991.

[quads id=5]

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source material)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided in source material)

Correspondence Address: Thompson, J. K. (Primary corresponding author for initial validation, 1991). Specific details related to current correspondence are not available in the source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was developed and validated in 1991 by Thompson, Fabian, Moulton, Dunn, and Altabe. As a published academic instrument, usage typically requires citation of the original validation paper (Thompson et al., 1991). Researchers should consult the primary author or the publisher (Journal of Personality Assessment) regarding formal permissions for commercial use or large-scale adaptations.

The instrument text is referenced in the dissertation by Herbozo (2007), which discusses the scale’s application. The original PDF of the dissertation containing the instrument on pages 120-121 can be downloaded here: http://usf.sobek.ufl.edu/content/SF/S0/02/68/04/00001/E14-SFE0002487.pdf

Reference’s

• Thompson‚ J. K.‚ Fabian‚ L. J.‚ Moulton‚ D. O.‚ Dunn‚ M. E.‚ & Altabe‚ M. N. (1991). Development and Validation of the Physical Appearance Related Teasing Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment‚ 56(3)‚ 513-521.
• Herbozo‚ Sylvia.‚ (2007). The Effects of Ambiguous Appearance-related Feedback on Body Image‚ Mood States‚ and Intentions to Use Body Changes Strategies in College Women. University of South Florida‚ College of Arts and Sciences‚ Department of Psychology.

[quads id=5]

Items of the Physical Appearance-Related Teasing Scale (PARTS)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way. The response format is a 5-point scale (1=Never, 5=Frequently).

1. When you were a child‚ did you feel that your peers were staring at because you were overweight?
2. When you were a child‚ did you ever feel like people were making fun of you because of your weight?
3. Were you ridiculed as a child about being overweight?
4. When you were a child‚ did people make jokes about you being too big?
5. When you were a child‚ were you laughed at for trying out for sports because you were too heavy?
6. Did your brother(s) or other male relatives call you names like “fatso” when they got angry at you?
7. Did your father ever make jokes that referred to your weight?
8. Did other kids call you derogatory names that related to your size or weight?
9. Did you ever feel like people were pointing at you because of your size or weight?
10. Were you the brunt of family jokes because of your weight?
11. Did people point you out of a crowd because of your weight?
12. Did you ever hear your classmate snicker when you walked into the classroom alone?
13. When you were growing up‚ did people say you dressed funny?
14. Did people say you had funny teeth?
15. Did kids call you funny looking?
16. Did other kids tease you about wearing clothes that didn’t match or were out of style?
17. Did other kids ever make jokes about your hair?
18. When you were a child were you scoffed at for looking like a weakling?