Appearance Anxiety Scale (AAS)

Appearance Anxiety Scale (AAS)

Appearance Anxiety Scale (AAS) used in psychology are essential tools for clinical and research assessments. This post is based on dissertations submitted by students during their academic programs. At ‘Mental Health,’ we arrange and provide these resources to you. Here is the complete list of resources (Click Here). To access these materials, click on the ‘Avail File’ section below.”

Appearance Anxiety Scale (AAS)
Appearance Anxiety Scale (AAS)

About Appearance Anxiety Scale (AAS)

The Appearance Anxiety Scale (AAS) is a self-report measure that assesses the degree of anxiety individuals experience regarding their physical appearance, particularly in social situations. Originally developed by Dion, Dion, and Keelan in 1990, this tool is utilized to evaluate appearance anxiety as a facet of social-evaluative anxiety, often referred to as the “ugly duckling syndrome.”

Purpose of the Tool

The AAS was developed to:

Measure levels of social-evaluative anxiety related to physical appearance.
Identify the cognitive and emotional impacts of appearance-related concerns on social interactions.
Aid researchers and clinicians in understanding the relationship between appearance anxiety and broader social anxiety symptoms.

Description of Tool

Appearance anxiety has been recognized as a significant factor in social and psychological functioning, influencing how individuals perceive themselves in social contexts. Dion and colleagues developed the AAS as a means to assess appearance anxiety within the scope of social-evaluative fears, particularly for individuals who may feel self-conscious about their physical appearance.

The AAS consists of a series of items that assess thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with anxiety about one’s appearance. Respondents rate their level of concern on a Likert scale, with higher scores indicating higher levels of appearance-related social anxiety. This scale helps to capture the emotional and behavioral responses individuals may have in situations where they feel their appearance is being evaluated by others.

Psychometric Properties

  • Reliability: The AAS demonstrates good internal consistency, making it a reliable tool for measuring appearance anxiety.
  • Validity: Construct validity is supported by correlations with other measures of social anxiety and self-esteem, validating its effectiveness in assessing appearance-related social concerns.

Age Group

The Appearance Anxiety Scale is appropriate for adolescents and adults aged 16 and above, particularly those who may experience heightened self-consciousness in social situations due to appearance concerns.

References

  • Dion, K. L., Dion, K. K., & Keelan, J. P. (1990). Appearance anxiety as a dimension of social-evaluative anxiety: Exploring the ugly duckling syndrome. Contemporary Social Psychology, 14, 220-224.
  • Denchik, Angela L. (2005). Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale. Ohio State University.

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Reference File: Anxiety-A13

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