Adapting and validating the workplace weight-based teasing scale and its relationship with workplace aggression and psychological distress

Abstract

Purpose: The Western literature presents scales that measure weight-based teasing; however, their applicability is limited to adolescents and patients. There are limited studies that have explored this teasing in organizational settings, specifically in as culturally diverse and sensitive work environments as those in India. Given the rising cases of weight-based teasing toward both obese and skinny people, a dedicated measurement tool that is applicable in organizational settings is required. Hence, this study aims to develop the Workplace Weight-Based Teasing Scale (W-WBTS), investigate its psychometric properties in the Indian context, and examine its relationship with aggression, psychological distress, and subjective well-being. Design/methodology/approach: Data was collected from the employees working at multi-national companies in the Delhi NCR region. This study adopted a systematic scale development methodology involving a literature review and focused group discussions to generate scale items. The study then conducted two independent studies to explore the psychometric properties of the W-WBTS in India. The factorial structure in Study 1 was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (using SPSS) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (using AMOS). Study 2 evaluated the reliability and validity of the scale. Finally, gender-based invariances were tested using the measurement invariance test. Findings: EFA and CFA validated a single-factor five-item scale in Study 1. The second study’s results established the criterion validity of this scale. Furthermore, the results suggest that weight-based teasing is one of the statistically significant predictors of psychological distress in organizations, thus recommending and affirming its predictive validity. The study confirmed the scale’s incremental validity by explaining variance in psychological distress over aggression and control variables, suggesting its added predictive value over existing scales. Finally, the results confirmed the measurement invariance test of W-WBTS in Indian context. Originality/value: Existing scales predominantly focus on adolescents and patients, emphasizing only on obese populations. This study is first of its kind that fills a critical gap by adapting and validating a scale tailored for working professionals, encompassing both skinny and obese people.