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National Violence Against Women Survey
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About National Violence Against Women Survey
Scale Name
National Violence Against Women Survey
Author Details
Dean G. Kilpatrick, Christine N. Edmunds, Anne Seymour (1992); Heidi S. Resnick, Dean G. Kilpatrick, Bonnie S. Dansky, Benjamin E. Saunders, Connie L. Best (1993); Patricia Tjaden, Nancy Thoennes (2000)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The National Violence Against Women Survey (NVAWS), initially developed as the National Women’s Study (NWS) by Kilpatrick, Edmunds, and Seymour (1992) and Resnick et al. (1993), and later expanded by Tjaden and Thoennes (2000), is a 4-item (NWS) or 5-item (NVAWS) self-report measure designed to assess completed and attempted rape victimization among adult males and females. Published in Rape in America: A Report to the Nation (1992), Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (1993), and by the National Institute of Justice (2000), the NVAWS uses behaviorally specific questions to capture incidents of forcible rape, attempted rape, and drug- or alcohol-facilitated rape. The survey aims to estimate the prevalence and consequences of sexual violence in the U.S. population.
Participants respond to items about lifetime and past-year victimization, typically using yes/no or frequency formats. The NVAWS was administered to 8,000 women and 8,005 men (age ≥ 18, mean age not specified, U.S.-based) via telephone interviews, with a cooperation rate of 85% and response rate of 34%. Approximately 18% of women and 3% of men reported lifetime rape victimization. The scale correlates with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; r ≈ 0.40–0.60), depression (r ≈ 0.30–0.50), and substance use (r ≈ 0.25–0.45). It is used in public health, clinical psychology, and criminology to assess sexual violence prevalence, identify risk factors, and inform policy and prevention strategies.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the measure from Kilpatrick et al. (1992), Resnick et al. (1993), Tjaden and Thoennes (2000), or authorized sources (e.g., National Institute of Justice), ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (adult males and females) that the questionnaire assesses experiences of sexual violence, emphasizing confidentiality and voluntary participation.
- Administer the 4-item (NWS) or 5-item (NVAWS) scale via telephone, in-person, or digital formats, with instructions to report lifetime or past-year victimization experiences.
- Estimated completion time is 5–10 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 NVAWS demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties (Basile et al., 2004). Internal consistency for the 5-item NVAWS scale is Cronbach’s alpha = 0.76, based on a nationally representative sample. Test-retest reliability is not explicitly reported but estimated as moderate (r ≈ 0.65–0.80 over 4–6 weeks) from similar victimization measures. Construct validity is supported by correlations with the Conflict Tactics Scale (r ≈ 0.40–0.60; Straus, 1979) and mental health measures (e.g., PTSD, r ≈ 0.40–0.60).
Criterion validity is evidenced by the scale’s ability to predict PTSD symptoms and distinguish victims from non-victims. The unidimensional structure focuses on rape victimization, with behaviorally specific items enhancing validity. Pairing with measures like the Trauma Symptom Inventory (Briere, 1995) or the Composite Abuse Scale (Hegarty et al., 1999) enhances comprehensive IPV assessment.
Available Versions
04-Items
Reference
Kilpatrick, D. G. (1992). Rape in America: A report to the nation. Technical Report.
Resnick, H. S., Kilpatrick, D. G., Dansky, B. S., Saunders, B. E., & Best, C. L. (1993). Prevalence of civilian trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in a representative national sample of women. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 61(6), 984.
Tjaden, P. G., & Thoennes, N. (2000). Extent, nature, and consequences of intimate partner violence. US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the National Violence Against Women Survey measure?
It measures completed and attempted rape victimization in adults.
Who is the target population?
Adult males and females.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 5–10 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies sexual violence prevalence to guide prevention and support services.
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