Download the report - The Healing Foundation

leaving 82 invitations not responded to or partially completed surveys (one person officially
opted out of taking part). Thirty eight participants took part (female n = 30, male n = 8). All
participants were over 18 years, with a median age within the age band 41-45 years. Most were
married or living with their partner (60.5%) and 39.5 were living alone or with friends and
relatives.
Detailed description of measures
Derriford Appearance Scale-24 (DAS-24)
Developed by Carr, Moss and Harris (2005) the DAS-24 is a 24-item scale used to assess
appearance concern in clinical and research settings (Moss, 2005). Items relate to participants’
behaviours and concerns surrounding an area of their body they are self-conscious about. Items
are scored from ‘not at all’/’never’/’almost never’ (with a non-applicable option) to
‘extremely’/’almost always’. High scores indicate high levels of distress.
Rosenberg Self-esteem scale (RSE)
This is a 10-item scale that measures respondents’ general feeling towards themselves
(Rosenberg, 1965). The items are scored from 4 (‘strongly agree’) to 1 (‘strongly disagree’),
where higher scores denote higher levels of self-esteem.
Adapted Other esteem scale
This is an adapted version by Burkes and Stets (1999). Other esteem relates to how an
individual believes that other people perceive them. Items for the RSE have been adapted to
incorporate this concept. For instance, “I feel I do not have much to be proud of” is rephrased as
“I feel that other people feel I do not have much to be proud of”. Similarly, items on this scale
are scored from 4 (‘strongly agree’) to 1 (‘strongly disagree’), with higher scores indicating
higher esteem perceived from others.
Social Ranking Scale (SRS)
This social comparison scale includes 11 items focusing of respondent judgements of their
social rank, relative attractiveness and group fit (Allan & Gilbert, 1995). Items are arranged on a
scale with bipolar opposites at either end (e.g. Inferior-Superior; Left Out-Accepted). Responses
range from most negative to most positive judgments of the self along the scale (1-10,
respectively). Higher scores represent more favourable comparisons.
Refined Aggression scale
This shortened version of the Aggression questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992) comprises four
subscales (physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger and hostility). Items are scored from 1
(‘extremely uncharacteristic of me’) to 5 (‘extremely characteristic of me’), where higher scores
indicate greater aggression.
158