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Chapter 4 - Appearance-Based Rejection Sensitivity (Appearance-RS) Scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2025

By
Lora E. Park  and
Deborah E. Ward
Edited by
Virginia Ramseyer Winter ,
Tracy L. Tylka  and
Antoinette M. Landor
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 15-item Appearance-based Rejection Sensitivity Scale (Appearance-RS Scale; Park, 2007) measures the degree to which individuals anxiously expect rejection from others based on their physical appearance. The scale presents 15 ambiguous scenarios in which individuals indicate (a) how anxiously concerned they would be about their appearance in each situation, and (b) their expectations of being rejected in each situation based on their appearance. There is also a brief, 10-item version of the Appearance-RS Scale and a 10-item version of the scale for use with adolescents. The Appearance-RS Scale can be administered online and/or in-person to adults and adolescents and is free to use in any setting. This chapter first discusses the development of the Appearance-RS Scale and then provides evidence of its psychometrics. The Appearance-RS Scale has been shown to have a one-factor structure and shows acceptable internal reliability, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and unique predictive validity. The chapter then provides the Appearance-RS Scale items, instructions for administering the scale to participants, the item response scale, scoring procedure, and translations available. Logistics of use, such as permissions, copyright, and contact information, are also provided.

Keywords

Appearance-based Rejection Sensitivity ScaleAppearance-RS Scaleitemsscale developmentpsychometric evidencefactor structurereliabilityvalidityadministrationscoringtranslations available

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Chapter
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Handbook of Body Image-Related Measures , pp. 10 - 13
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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References

Bowker, J. C., Thomas, K. K., Spencer, S. V., & Park, L. E. (2013). Examining appearance-based rejection sensitivity during early adolescence. Journal for Research on Adolescence, 23, 375–388. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12003.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Calogero, R. M., Park, L. E., Rahemtulla, Z. R., & Williams, K. C. D. (2010). Predicting excessive body image concerns among British university students: The unique role of appearance-based rejection sensitivity. Body Image, 7, 78–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2009.09.005.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Park, L. E. (2007). Appearance-based rejection sensitivity: Implications for mental and physical health, affect, and motivation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 33, 490–504. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167206296301.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Park, L. E., Calogero, R. M., Harwin, M. J., & DiRaddo, A. (2009). Predicting interest in cosmetic surgery: Interactive effects of appearance-based rejection sensitivity and negative appearance comments. Body Image, 6, 186–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2009.02.003.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Park, L. E., Calogero, R. M., Young, A. F., & DiRaddo, A. (2010). Appearance-based rejection sensitivity predicts body dysmorphic disorder symptoms and cosmetic surgery acceptance. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 29 (5), 489–509. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2010.29.5.489.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Park, L. E., DiRaddo, A., & Calogero, R. (2009). Sociocultural influence and appearance-based rejection sensitivity among college students. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 33, 108–119. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.2008.01478.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Park, L. E., & Harwin, M. J. (2010). Visible vs. non-visible rejection: Consequences of appearance-based rejection sensitivity. Journal of Research in Personality, 44, 128–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2009.10.001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Park, L. E., & Pinkus, R. T. (2009). Interpersonal effects of appearance-based rejection sensitivity. Journal of Research in Personality, 43, 602–612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2009.02.003.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

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