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Composite Abuse Scale
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About Composite Abuse Scale
Scale Name
Composite Abuse Scale
Author Details
Kelsey Hegarty, Mary Sheehan, and Cynthia Schonfeld (1999); Kelsey Hegarty, Robert Bush, and Mary Sheehan
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Composite Abuse Scale (CAS), developed by Hegarty, Sheehan, and Schonfeld (1999) and further refined by Hegarty, Bush, and Sheehan (2005), is a 30-item self-report scale designed to measure intimate partner violence (IPV) among females with current or former intimate partners for longer than one month. Published in the Journal of Family Violence (1999) and Violence and Victims (2005), the CAS includes four subscales: Severe Combined Abuse (e.g., life-threatening acts, sexual violence), Emotional Abuse (e.g., verbal abuse, controlling behaviors), Physical Abuse (7 items, e.g., hitting, pushing), and Harassment (e.g., stalking, unwanted contact). The scale aims to provide a multidimensional assessment of IPV for use in clinical and research settings.
Participants rate the frequency of abusive experiences over the past 12 months on a 6-point Likert scale (0 = “Never” to 5 = “Daily”). Subscale scores are summed, with Physical Abuse scores ranging from 0–35 and total scores from 0–150, where higher scores indicate greater abuse frequency. The CAS was validated with 1,836 women in Australian general practice settings (mean age ≈ 35 years) in 1999 and 427 women in 2005, showing that 20–30% reported physical abuse and 40–50% reported emotional abuse. The scale correlates with depression (r ≈ 0.35–0.55), anxiety (r ≈ 0.30–0.50), and post-traumatic stress symptoms (r ≈ 0.40–0.60). It is used in clinical psychology, social work, and public health to assess IPV severity, guide treatment, and evaluate intervention outcomes.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the scale from Hegarty et al. (1999, 2005) or authorized sources (e.g., Journal of Family Violence, Violence and Victims), ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (females with intimate partners >1 month) that the questionnaire assesses experiences of partner abuse, emphasizing confidentiality and voluntary participation.
- Administer the 30-item scale in a clinical or controlled setting, using paper or digital formats, with instructions to rate frequency of experiences over the past 12 months.
- Estimated completion time is 10–15 minutes.
- Ensure a safe, distraction-free environment; provide support resources (e.g., crisis hotlines) and adapt for accessibility (e.g., oral administration) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The CAS demonstrates strong psychometric properties (Hegarty et al., 1999, 2005). Internal consistency for the Physical Abuse subscale is high (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.94), with other subscales inferred as comparable (Cronbach’s alpha ≈ 0.85–0.95). Test-retest reliability is not explicitly reported but estimated as moderate to high (r ≈ 0.70–0.85 over 4–6 weeks) from similar IPV measures. Content validity is supported by development with input from IPV survivors and experts.
Construct validity is evidenced by correlations with the Abusive Behavior Inventory (r ≈ 0.50–0.70; Shepard & Campbell, 1992) and mental health measures (e.g., depression, r ≈ 0.35–0.55). Criterion validity is shown by the scale’s ability to distinguish between abused and non-abused women. Factorial validity is confirmed by a four-factor structure (Severe Combined Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Physical Abuse, Harassment). Pairing with measures like the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus et al., 1996) or the Trauma Symptom Inventory (Briere, 1995) enhances comprehensive IPV assessment.
Available Versions
30-Items
Reference
Hegarty, K., Sheehan, M., & Schonfeld, C. (2017). A multidimensional definition of partner abuse: Development and preliminary validation of the Composite Abuse Scale. In Domestic Violence (pp. 15-31). Routledge.
Hegarty, K., Bush, R., & Sheehan, M. (2005). The composite abuse scale: further development and assessment of reliability and validity of a multidimensional partner abuse measure in clinical settings. Violence & Victims, 20(5).
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Composite Abuse Scale measure?
It measures severe combined abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, and harassment in intimate relationships.
Who is the target population?
Females with current or former intimate partners for longer than one month.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 10–15 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies abuse types and severity to guide clinical interventions and support services.
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