Psychology RootsPerpetration in Dating Relationships Scale
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About Perpetration in Dating Relationships Scale
Scale Name
Perpetration in Dating Relationships Scale
Author Details
Vangie A. Foshee, G. Fletcher Linder, Karl E. Bauman, and others
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Perpetration in Dating Relationships Scale, developed by Vangie A. Foshee, G. Fletcher Linder, Karl E. Bauman, and colleagues in 1996, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure self-reported perpetration of physical violence within dating relationships among students in grades 8-9 (ages 13-15). Published in Journal of Interpersonal Violence (Foshee et al., 1996), the scale assesses the frequency of physically violent acts committed by adolescents against their dating partners, such as hitting, slapping, or kicking. It was developed as part of the Safe Dates program, a school-based intervention to prevent adolescent dating violence, and aligns with public health and interpersonal violence research frameworks. The scale complements its counterpart, the Victimization in Dating Relationships Scale, to provide a comprehensive view of dating violence dynamics.
The scale comprises 18 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = “never” to 3 = “10 or more times”), assessing the frequency of specific violent acts perpetrated in dating relationships (e.g., “How many times have you slapped or kicked a dating partner?”). Scores are summed (range: 0-54), with higher scores indicating greater perpetration of physical violence. Validated primarily in rural school samples with White and African-American students, it is used to identify perpetrators, evaluate intervention effectiveness, and study risk factors for dating violence.
Psychologists, public health researchers, and educators use the scale to screen for dating violence perpetration, assess prevention program outcomes, and inform policy. Its high internal consistency and adolescent focus are strengths, though its English-only availability and specific age range may limit broader application.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from primary sources, such as Foshee et al. (1996) in Journal of Interpersonal Violence (Vol. 11, pp. 531-543) or Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses behaviors in dating relationships to promote safety, emphasizing confidentiality and using trauma-sensitive, age-appropriate language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to rate the frequency of committing each violent act against a dating partner, using the 4-point scale. Ensure anonymity to encourage honest responses.
- Approximate time for completion is 5-7 minutes, depending on reading ability.
- Administer in a classroom or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private, supportive environment. Provide access to counseling resources due to the sensitive nature of the content.
Reliability and Validity
The Perpetration in Dating Relationships Scale exhibits excellent psychometric properties, as reported in Foshee et al. (1996). Internal consistency is very high, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.93, indicating strong item cohesion, suitable for adolescent populations. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate based on similar violence perpetration measures (r ≈ 0.60-0.80 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as psychological abuse perpetration (r ≈ 0.50-0.70) and exposure to violence in other contexts. Discriminant validity is inferred from weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, such as academic achievement (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to detect reductions in perpetration rates following interventions like Safe Dates and its association with risk factors like substance use. Factor analyses confirm a unidimensional structure, supporting construct validity. The high reliability makes it a robust tool, but it should be used alongside victimization measures or multi-informant data for a comprehensive assessment.
Available Versions
18-Items
Reference
Foshee, V. A., Linder, G. F., Bauman, K. E., Langwick, S. A., Arriaga, X. B., Heath, J. L., … & Bangdiwala, S. (1996). The Safe Dates Project: Theoretical basis, evaluation design, and selected baseline findings. American journal of preventive medicine, 12(5), 39-47.
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Perpetration in Dating Relationships Scale measure?
It measures self-reported perpetration of physical violence in dating relationships.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, researchers, and educators studying students in grades 8-9.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 5-7 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets grades 8-9, primarily White and African-American students.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, it supports prevention programs with high reliability (α = 0.93).
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