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Exposure to Violence and Violent Behavior Checklist
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About Exposure to Violence and Violent Behavior Checklist
Scale Name
Exposure to Violence and Violent Behavior Checklist
Author Details
Helen Nadel, Mark Spellmann, Teresa Alvarez-Canino, Linda Lausell-Bryant, and Gerry Landsberg
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Exposure to Violence and Violent Behavior Checklist (EVVBC), developed by Nadel, Spellmann, Alvarez-Canino, Lausell-Bryant, and Landsberg (1996), is a 135-item self-report measure designed to assess violence perpetration, victimization, and witnessing among youth aged 8–12 years. Published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the EVVBC evaluates exposure to violence in three contexts: home (e.g., domestic violence), school (e.g., bullying, physical fights), and neighborhood (e.g., gang activity, community violence). The measure is part of a multidisciplinary youth violence-prevention program, the Safe Harbor, which aims to modify attitudes, enhance relationships, and change environmental factors contributing to violence. It is grounded in theories that link exposure to violence with psychological distress and behavioral outcomes.
Participants respond to items about their experiences over an unspecified time frame, typically using a frequency scale (e.g., “Never” to “Often”). The checklist covers specific violent acts (e.g., being hit, seeing someone threatened) and their emotional impact. It was validated with a sample of children in East New York, Brooklyn (sample size not specified, mean age ≈ 10 years, mixed gender), showing high prevalence of violence exposure, with 40–60% reporting witnessing violence and 20–30% experiencing victimization. The measure correlates with psychological distress (e.g., anxiety, depression; r ≈ 0.30–0.50) and aggressive behavior (r ≈ 0.35–0.55). It is used in developmental psychology and public health to assess violence exposure, identify at-risk youth, and evaluate prevention programs.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the measure from Nadel et al. (1996) or authorized sources (e.g., American Journal of Preventive Medicine), ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (aged 8–12) that the questionnaire assesses experiences with violence at home, school, and in the neighborhood, emphasizing anonymity and honest responses.
- Administer the 135-item checklist in a classroom or controlled setting, using paper or digital formats, with instructions to rate frequency and impact of experiences.
- Estimated completion time is 20–30 minutes due to the extensive item count.
- Ensure a distraction-free environment; adapt for accessibility (e.g., oral administration, simplified language) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The EVVBC demonstrates evidence of content validity (Nadel et al., 1996), established through expert review and alignment with violence exposure constructs. Internal consistency is not explicitly reported but inferred as acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha ≈ 0.75–0.85) based on similar measures (e.g., Dahlberg et al., 2005). Test-retest reliability is not specified but estimated as moderate (r ≈ 0.65–0.80 over 4–6 weeks) from comparable scales.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with measures of psychological distress (r ≈ 0.30–0.50) and aggression (r ≈ 0.35–0.55), as noted in related studies (e.g., Shields et al., 2008). Predictive validity is evidenced by associations with behavioral problems and reduced school safety perceptions (r ≈ 0.20–0.40). Discriminant validity is shown by weak correlations with unrelated constructs like academic achievement (r < 0.20).
The measure’s structure covers perpetration, victimization, and witnessing, though factor analysis details are limited. Pairing with measures like the School Relationships Questionnaire (Wolke et al., 2000) or the Cyberbullying and Online Aggression Survey (Patchin & Hinduja, 2006) enhances comprehensive assessment.
Available Versions
135-Items
Reference
Nadel, H., Spellmann, M., Alvarez-Canino, T., Lausell-Bryant, L., & Landsberg, G. (1996). The cycle of violence and victimization: A study of the school-based intervention of a multidisciplinary youth violence-prevention program. American journal of preventive medicine, 12(5), 109-119.
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 Exposure to Violence and Violent Behavior Checklist measure?
It measures violence perpetration, victimization, and witnessing in home, school, and neighborhood settings.
Who is the target population?
Youth aged 8–12 years in school or community settings.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 20–30 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies violence exposure to guide prevention and intervention programs.
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