Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS)

doi:10.1017/9781009398275.121

Chapter 120 - Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS)

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 November 2025

Katrina P. Jongman-Sereno

Edited by

Virginia Ramseyer Winter ,

Tracy L. Tylka and

Antoinette M. Landor

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Virginia Ramseyer Winter: Affiliation:
University of Minnesota
Tracy L. Tylka: Affiliation:
Ohio State University
Antoinette M. Landor: Affiliation:
University of Missouri

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Summary

The Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS) is a 12-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure social physique anxiety, a subtype of anxiety related to concerns about others observing or evaluating one’s body (Hart et al., 1989). The SPAS can be administered online or in-person to adolescents and adults and is free to use in any setting. The SPAS, originally unidimensional, has undergone several revisions to address factor structure and gender invariance, resulting in abbreviations with 7, 8, and 9 items. Reliability estimates for SPAS and its variations vary, with Cronbach’s alpha ranging from the high .60s to the low .90s, and test-retest reliability reaching .94. Convergent validity, discriminant validity, and criterion-related validity support the use of the SPAS. The 12-item SPAS, instructions for administration, the item response scale, and the scoring procedure are provided. Citations for abbreviated versions and known translations are provided. Logistics of use, such as permissions, copyright, and contact information, are provided for readers.

Keywords

Social Physique Anxiety Scale SPAS negative body image appearance body perception body-related emotions adults adolescents psychometric evidence factor structure reliability validity scoring translations scale abbreviation

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Type: Chapter
Information: Handbook of Body Image-Related Measures , pp. 355 - 357

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009398275.121 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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References

Eklund, R. C., Kelley, B., & Wilson, P. (1997). The Social Physique Anxiety Scale: Men, women, and the effects of modifying Item 2. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 19(2), 188–196. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.19.2.188.CrossRef Google Scholar

Eklund, R. C., Mack, D., & Hart, E. (1996). Factorial validity of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale for females. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 18(3), 281–295. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jsep.18.3.281.CrossRef Google Scholar

Hart, E. A., Rejeski, W. J., & Leary, M. R. (1989). The measurement of social physique anxiety. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 11(1), 94–104.CrossRef Google Scholar

Martin, K. A., Rejeski, W. J., Leary, M. R., McAuley, E., & Bane, S. (1997). Is the Social Physique Anxiety Scale really multidimensional? Conceptual and statistical arguments for a unidimensional model. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 19(4), 359–367. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jsep.19.4.359.CrossRef Google Scholar

Motl, R. W., & Conroy, D. E. (2000). Validity and factorial invariance of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 32(5), 1007–1017. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200005000-00020.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Pacewicz, C. E., Hill, C. R., Karlinsky, A., & Samendinger, S. (2023). Testing measurement invariance of the 7-item Social Physique Anxiety Scale. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 27(4), 293–304. https://doi.org/10.1080/1091367X.2023.2173527.CrossRef Google Scholar

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