Psychology RootsTable of Contents
Profile of Psychological Abuse
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Profile of Psychological Abuse”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About Profile of Psychological Abuse
Scale Name
Profile of Psychological Abuse
Author Details
Leslie A. Sackett and Daniel G. Saunders (1999)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Profile of Psychological Abuse (PPA), developed by Sackett and Saunders (1999), is a 21-item self-report scale designed to measure a wide variety of psychological abuse experienced by abused females in intimate relationships. Published in Violence and Victims, the PPA includes four subscales: Jealous Control (e.g., possessive behaviors, monitoring), Ignore (e.g., silent treatment, emotional withdrawal), Ridicule Traits (e.g., mocking personal characteristics), and Criticize Behavior (e.g., demeaning actions or choices). The scale aims to capture the diverse forms of psychological abuse within intimate partner violence (IPV), emphasizing its emotional and psychological impact on battered women.
Participants rate the frequency of abusive behaviors over the past year or relationship duration on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = “Never” to 5 = “Very often”). Subscale scores vary by item count, with total scores ranging from 21–105, where higher scores indicate greater psychological abuse. The PPA was validated with 234 battered women in the U.S. (mean age ≈ 30–40 years, recruited from shelters and community programs), showing that 85–95% reported frequent psychological abuse, particularly jealous control and criticism. 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 psychological IPV, guide treatment planning, and evaluate intervention outcomes.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the scale from Sackett and Saunders (1999) or authorized sources (e.g., Violence and Victims), ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (abused females) that the questionnaire assesses experiences of psychological abuse, emphasizing confidentiality and voluntary participation.
- Administer the 21-item scale in a clinical, shelter, or controlled setting, using paper or digital formats, with instructions to rate frequency of experiences over the past year or relationship duration.
- Estimated completion time is 7–10 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 PPA demonstrates robust psychometric properties (Sackett & Saunders, 1999). Internal consistency is strong: Jealous Control (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.85), Ignore (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.80), Ridicule Traits (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.79), and Criticize Behavior (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.75), based on a sample of 234 battered 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., depression, r ≈ 0.35–0.55). Criterion validity is evidenced by the scale’s ability to predict trauma symptoms and distinguish severity among abused women. Factorial validity is confirmed by a four-factor structure. Pairing with measures like the Index of Psychological Abuse (Sullivan & Bybee, 1999) or the Composite Abuse Scale (Hegarty et al., 1999) enhances comprehensive IPV assessment.
Available Versions
21-Items
Reference
Sackett, L. A., & Saunders, D. G. (2001). The impact of different forms of psychological abuse. Psychological abuse in violent domestic relations, 197.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Profile of Psychological Abuse measure?
It measures jealous control, ignore, ridicule traits, and criticize behavior in psychological abuse among abused females.
Who is the target population?
Abused females in intimate relationships.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 7–10 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies psychological abuse patterns to guide clinical interventions and support services.
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
Share With Us
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at psychologyroots@gmail.com. We help others on behalf of you.
