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Safe Dates – Physical Violence Victimization
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About Safe Dates – Physical Violence Victimization
Scale Name
Safe Dates – Physical Violence Victimization
Author Details
Vangie A. Foshee, George Fletcher Linder, Karl E. Bauman, Ximena B. Arriaga, Russell W. Helms, Gary G. Koch, et al. (1996, 1998)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Safe Dates – Physical Violence Victimization scale, developed by Foshee, Linder, Bauman, et al. (1996, 1998), is a 16-item self-report measure designed to assess the frequency of physical victimization in dating relationships among male and female students in grades 8 and 9. Published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (1996) and American Journal of Public Health (1998), the scale is part of the Safe Dates program, a school-based intervention aimed at preventing dating violence. The measure focuses on physical acts of violence (e.g., being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose) experienced by adolescents in romantic relationships, capturing the prevalence and severity of physical dating violence victimization.
Participants rate the frequency of victimization experiences over the past year on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = “Never” to 3 = “10 or more times”). Scores range from 0–48, with higher scores indicating greater victimization. The scale was validated with 1,886 students from 14 public schools in a rural North Carolina county (mean age ≈ 14 years, ~50% female), showing that approximately 8–12% reported physical victimization. The scale correlates with psychological distress (r ≈ 0.30–0.50), depression (r ≈ 0.25–0.45), and risky behaviors like substance use (r ≈ 0.20–0.40). It is used in school psychology, public health, and violence prevention research to assess physical dating violence, evaluate intervention effectiveness, and inform prevention programs.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the scale from Foshee et al. (1996, 1998) or authorized sources (e.g., American Journal of Public Health), ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (male and female students in grades 8–9) that the questionnaire assesses experiences of physical violence in dating relationships, emphasizing anonymity and voluntary participation.
- Administer the 16-item scale in a classroom or controlled setting, using paper or digital formats, with instructions to rate frequency of experiences over the past year.
- Estimated completion time is 5–10 minutes.
- Ensure a distraction-free environment; adapt for accessibility (e.g., oral administration) and provide support resources (e.g., school counselors) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The Safe Dates – Physical Violence Victimization scale demonstrates strong psychometric properties (Foshee et al., 1998). Internal consistency is high (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.92), based on a sample of 1,886 students. Test-retest reliability is not explicitly reported but estimated as moderate to high (r ≈ 0.70–0.85 over 4–6 weeks) from similar dating violence measures.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with the Conflict Tactics Scale (r ≈ 0.50–0.70; Straus, 1979) and psychological distress measures (e.g., depression, r ≈ 0.25–0.45). Factorial validity is evidenced by a unidimensional structure focusing on physical victimization. Criterion validity is shown by the scale’s ability to predict intervention outcomes in the Safe Dates program, with reduced victimization in the intervention group compared to controls.
Discriminant validity is indicated by weak correlations with unrelated constructs like academic achievement (r < 0.20). Pairing with measures like the Safe Dates – Psychological Abuse Victimization scale or the Composite Abuse Scale (Hegarty et al., 1999) enhances comprehensive dating violence assessment.
Available Versions
Maltiple-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.
Foshee, V. A., Bauman, K. E., Arriaga, X. B., Helms, R. W., Koch, G. G., & Linder, G. F. (1998). An evaluation of Safe Dates, an adolescent dating violence prevention program. American journal of public health, 88(1), 45-50.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Safe Dates – Physical Violence Victimization scale measure?
It measures the frequency of physical victimization in dating relationships among adolescents.
Who is the target population?
Male and female students in grades 8–9.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 5–10 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies physical dating violence to guide prevention programs like Safe Dates.
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