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Peer Victimization Scale
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About Peer Victimization Scale
Scale Name
Peer Victimization Scale
Author Details
Susan Austin and Stephen Joseph
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Peer Victimization Scale (PVS), developed by Austin and Joseph (1996), is a 6-item self-report measure designed to assess bully victimization among school children aged 8–11 years. Published in the British Journal of Educational Psychology, the PVS is embedded within the Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPPC; Harter, 1985) to reduce response bias by integrating victimization items with general self-perception questions. The scale focuses on experiences of being bullied, including physical (e.g., being hit), verbal (e.g., being called names), and relational (e.g., being excluded) victimization, capturing the repetitive and power-imbalanced nature of bullying.
Participants rate the frequency of victimization experiences on a structured scale, typically indicating how often they have been bullied in the past school term. The PVS was validated with a sample of 425 children (204 boys, 221 girls; mean age = 9.2 years) in UK primary schools. Results showed that 22% of children were classified as victims only, 15% as bully/victims, and 46% reported some involvement in bullying dynamics. The scale correlates with the Bullying-Behaviour Scale (r ≈ 0.40–0.60) and the Birleson Depression Inventory (r ≈ 0.30–0.50), linking victimization to lower self-esteem and higher depressive symptoms. It is used in educational psychology to assess victimization prevalence, identify at-risk children, and inform anti-bullying interventions.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the scale from the British Journal of Educational Psychology (Austin & Joseph, 1996) or authorized sources, ensuring ethical permissions from The British Psychological Society.
- Explain to participants (aged 8–11) that the questionnaire assesses school experiences, including bullying, emphasizing anonymity and honest responses.
- Administer the 6-item scale within the SPPC framework in a classroom or controlled setting, using paper or digital formats, with instructions to rate victimization frequency.
- Estimated completion time is 5–10 minutes for the victimization items, depending on integration with the SPPC.
- Ensure a distraction-free environment; adapt for accessibility (e.g., oral administration) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The PVS demonstrates strong psychometric properties (Austin & Joseph, 1996). Internal consistency is high, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.83, based on a sample of 425 children. Test-retest reliability is not explicitly reported but inferred as moderate (r ≈ 0.70–0.85 over 2–4 weeks) from similar self-report measures (e.g., Jonsson & Allwood, 2003).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with the Bullying-Behaviour Scale (r ≈ 0.40–0.60) and negative correlations with self-esteem on the SPPC (r ≈ -0.25–0.40; Andreou, 2000). Predictive validity is evidenced by associations with depressive symptoms and social rejection (r ≈ 0.30–0.50). Discriminant validity is suggested by weak correlations with unrelated constructs like academic performance (r < 0.20). The scale’s unidimensional structure focuses on general victimization, making it complementary to multidimensional measures like the Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale (Mynard & Joseph, 2000).
Available Versions
06-Items
Reference
Austin, S., & Joseph, S. (1996). Assessment of bully/victim problems in 8 to 11 year‐olds. British journal of educational psychology, 66(4), 447-456.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Peer Victimization Scale measure?
It measures the frequency of bullying victimization (physical, verbal, relational) in school.
Who is the target population?
Children aged 8–11 years in school settings.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 5–10 minutes, integrated within the SPPC.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies victims and bully/victims to guide anti-bullying programs.
Is it reliable for cross-cultural use?
Reliable in English; translations require validation for cultural relevance.
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