Appearance-Related Safety Behaviour Scale (ARSB-S)

doi:10.1017/9781009398275.006

Chapter 5 - Appearance-Related Safety Behaviour Scale (ARSB-S)

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 November 2025

Tapan A. Patel ,

Berta J. Summers and

Jesse R. Cougle

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 13-item Appearance-Related Safety Behavior Scale (ARSB-S; Patel et al., 2022) assesses the frequency of engagement in in appearance-related safety behaviors (ARSBs; i.e., maladaptive behaviors used to reduce or manage appearance anxiety or fear of being negatively evaluated based on appearance) over the past month. The ARSB-S can be administered online and in person to adults and is free to use in any setting. This chapter discusses the development of the ARSB-S and provides evidence for its psychometric properties. More specifically, the ARSB-S has been found to have a two-factor structure within exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with evidence for invariance based on gender. Internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity support the use of the ARSB-S. Next, this chapter provides the ARSB-S items in their entirety, instructions for administering the scale to participants, the item response scale, and the scoring procedure. Logistics of use, such as permissions, copyright, and contact information, are provided for readers.

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Type: Chapter
Information: Handbook of Body Image-Related Measures , pp. 14 - 16

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009398275.006 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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References

Patel, T. A., & Cougle, J. R. (2024). An experimental examination of appearance-related safety behaviors in a clinical sample of women. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 133(5), 368–377. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000926.CrossRef Google Scholar

Patel, T. A., Stewart, R. A., Summers, B. J., Wilver, N. L., & Cougle, J. R. (2022). A self-report assessment of appearance-related safety behaviours: Development and psychometric properties. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 50, 604–619. https://doi.org/10.1017/S135246582200039X.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Patel, T. A., Wilver, N. L., & Cougle, J. R. (2023). Appearance-related safety behaviors predict symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder following Internet-based treatment. Body Image, 46, 84–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.05.004.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Summers, B. J., & Cougle, J. R. (2018). An experimental test of the role of appearance-related safety behaviors in body dysmorphic disorder, social anxiety, and body dissatisfaction. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 127(8), 770–780. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000387.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Swami, V., Todd, J., & Barron, D. (2021). Translation and validation of body image instruments: An addendum to Swami and Barron (2019) in the form of frequently asked questions. Body Image, 37, 214–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.03.002.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

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Veale, D., & Riley, S. (2001). Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the ugliest of them all? The psychopathology of mirror gazing in body dysmorphic disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 39(12), 1381–1393. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0005-7967(00)00102-9.CrossRef Google Scholar

Wilver, N. L., Summers, B. J., & Cougle, J. R. (2020). Effects of safety behavior fading on appearance concerns and related symptoms. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 88(1), 65–74. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000453.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

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