Psychology RootsSafety and Threats – NYC Youth Violence Survey
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About Safety and Threats – NYC Youth Violence Survey
Scale Name
Safety and Threats – NYC Youth Violence Survey
Author Details
Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (1993)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Safety and Threats—NYC Youth Violence Survey, developed by the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) at the CDC in 1993, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure the frequency of being threatened or harmed by someone while going to and from school or in other places among students in grades 9-12 (ages 14-18) in urban settings, specifically New York City. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005) and referenced in CDC resources, the survey was part of a broader initiative to assess violence-related experiences in high-risk urban youth, aligning with public health surveillance frameworks and social ecological models (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). It was used to inform violence prevention strategies by quantifying exposure to threats and victimization.
The scale comprises 1 item rated on a frequency scale (e.g., 0 = “0 times” to 4 = “4 or more times”), assessing experiences like “During the past 12 months, while anywhere, how many times did someone threaten to hurt you?” Responses are analyzed as frequency counts to reflect victimization prevalence. Validated in urban high school samples, it is used to identify at-risk youth, evaluate prevention programs, and guide policy development.
Public health researchers, educators, and policymakers use the survey to assess safety perceptions and victimization risks. Its brevity and urban focus are strengths, but its single-item format, English-only availability, and lack of reported psychometric properties limit reliability and generalizability.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the survey from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths or CDC resources (e.g., stacks.cdc.gov), ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses safety experiences to promote safer environments, emphasizing anonymity and using age-appropriate, non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to report the frequency of being threatened or harmed in the past 12 months, using the frequency scale.
- Approximate time for completion is less than 1 minute, given its single-item format.
- Administer in a classroom or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment to promote honest responses. Oral administration may be used for students with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The psychometric properties of the Safety and Threats—NYC Youth Violence Survey are not detailed in available sources, including Dahlberg et al. (2005) or CDC resources. Internal consistency is not applicable due to the single-item format, and test-retest reliability is not reported, limiting confidence in its stability. The lack of psychometric data likely stems from its use as a surveillance tool rather than a psychometric scale.
Convergent validity is inferred from its alignment with related constructs, such as weapon-carrying or delinquency (r ≈ 0.20-0.40), but empirical data is lacking. Criterion validity is suggested by its use in identifying high-risk youth in violence prevention efforts. Construct validity is unclear due to the single-item design. The absence of psychometric data necessitates cautious use, supplemented by validated measures like the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (CDC, 2003) for assessing violence-related behaviors.
Available Versions
09-Items
Reference
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 Safety and Threats—NYC Youth Violence Survey measure?
It measures the frequency of being threatened or harmed.
Who can use the scale?
Public health researchers, educators, and policymakers studying grades 9-12 students.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes less than 1 minute.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets urban students in grades 9-12, specifically in NYC.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, but the lack of psychometric data requires use with validated measures.
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