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Harassment in Abusive Relationships: A Self-Report Scale (HARASS)
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About Harassment in Abusive Relationships: A Self-Report Scale (HARASS)
Scale Name
Harassment in Abusive Relationships: A Self-Report Scale (HARASS)
Author Details
Daniel J. Sheridan
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Harassment in Abusive Relationships: A Self-Report Scale (HARASS), developed by Daniel J. Sheridan (2001), is a 23-item self-report scale designed to measure the frequency and degree of distress caused by harassment of abused women by intimate male partners. Published in Forensic Emergency Medicine, the HARASS scale includes three subscales: Stalking-Like Behaviors (e.g., following, surveillance), Threatening Behaviors (e.g., verbal or physical threats), and Controlling Commodities (e.g., restricting access to resources like money or communication). The scale focuses on post-separation or ongoing harassment within intimate partner violence (IPV), capturing its emotional and psychological impact on abused women.
Participants rate the frequency of harassment behaviors over the past year or relationship duration on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = “Never” to 5 = “Very often”) and the degree of distress caused on a similar scale (1 = “Not at all distressing” to 5 = “Extremely distressing”). Total scores range from 23–115 for frequency and 23–115 for distress, with higher scores indicating greater harassment or distress. The HARASS was validated with a sample of abused women (sample size not fully specified, U.S.-based, mean age ≈ 30–40 years, recruited from clinical or forensic settings), showing that 80–90% reported frequent stalking-like or threatening behaviors. The scale correlates with post-traumatic stress symptoms (r ≈ 0.40–0.60), anxiety (r ≈ 0.30–0.50), and depression (r ≈ 0.35–0.55). It is used in clinical psychology, forensic nursing, and public health to assess harassment in IPV, inform safety planning, and support forensic documentation.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the scale from Sheridan (2001) or authorized sources (e.g., Forensic Emergency Medicine, Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins), ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (abused women with current or former male intimate partners) that the questionnaire assesses harassment experiences and associated distress, emphasizing confidentiality and voluntary participation.
- Administer the 23-item scale in a clinical, forensic, or controlled setting, using paper or digital formats, with instructions to rate frequency and distress of experiences over the past year or relationship duration.
- Estimated completion time is 8–12 minutes.
- Ensure a safe, distraction-free environment; provide support resources (e.g., crisis hotlines, shelter services) and adapt for accessibility (e.g., oral administration) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The HARASS scale demonstrates strong psychometric properties (Sheridan, 2001). Internal consistency is high: Often Scale (frequency, Cronbach’s alpha = 0.93) and Degree of Distress (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.92), based on a sample of abused women. 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. Convergent validity is supported by correlations with the Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory (r ≈ 0.50–0.70; Tolman, 1989) and mental health measures (e.g., PTSD, r ≈ 0.40–0.60).
Factorial validity is confirmed by a three-factor structure (Stalking-Like Behaviors, Threatening Behaviors, Controlling Commodities). Criterion validity is evidenced by its ability to predict distress and differentiate harassment severity among abused women. Pairing with measures like the Index of Psychological Abuse (Sullivan & Bybee, 1999), Women’s Experience with Battering Scale (Smith et al., 1995), or Trauma Symptom Inventory (Briere, 1995) enhances comprehensive IPV assessment.
Available Versions
23-Items
Reference
Sheridan, D. J. (2001). Treating survivors of intimate partner abuse: Forensic identification and documentation. Forensic emergency medicine, 203-228.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Harassment in Abusive Relationships Scale measure?
It measures the frequency and distress caused by stalking-like behaviors, threatening behaviors, and controlling commodities in abused women.
Who is the target population?
Abused women with current or former male intimate partners.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 8–12 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies harassment patterns and distress to guide safety planning and forensic interventions.
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