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Severity of Violence Against Women Scale
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About Severity of Violence Against Women Scale
Scale Name
Severity of Violence Against Women Scale
Author Details
Linda L. Marshall
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Severity of Violence Against Women Scale (SVAWS), developed by Marshall (1992a), along with its counterpart, the Severity of Violence Against Men Scale (SVAMS, 1992b), is a self-report measure designed to assess the severity of intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by males and females reporting on abuse with an intimate partner. Published in the Journal of Family Violence, the SVAWS/SVAMS measures two major dimensions: Threats (e.g., threats of harm, intimidation) and Acts of Violence (21 items for female victims, 20 for male victims, e.g., hitting, choking, sexual assault). The scales aim to capture the frequency and severity of abusive behaviors in intimate relationships, emphasizing gender-specific experiences.
Participants rate the frequency of abusive behaviors over the past year on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = “Never” to 3 = “Many times”). The Acts of Violence subscale scores range from 0–63 for females and 0–60 for males, with higher scores indicating greater severity of abuse. The SVAWS was validated with 707 female college students and 208 community women (mean age ≈ 20–40 years), while the SVAMS was validated with 184 men (community and college samples). Approximately 30–40% of women and 20–30% of men reported some form of physical violence. The scales correlate with psychological distress (r ≈ 0.35–0.55), depression (r ≈ 0.30–0.50), and fear of partner (r ≈ 0.40–0.60). They are used in clinical psychology, social work, and public health to assess IPV severity, guide intervention planning, and evaluate treatment outcomes.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the scales from Marshall (1992a, 1992b) or authorized sources (e.g., Journal of Family Violence), ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (males and females with intimate partners) that the questionnaire assesses experiences of threats and violence, emphasizing confidentiality and voluntary participation.
- Administer the 46-item SVAWS (for females) or 45-item SVAMS (for males) in a clinical or controlled setting, using paper or digital formats, with instructions to rate frequency of experiences over the past year.
- Estimated completion time is 12–15 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 SVAWS/SVAMS demonstrate strong psychometric properties (Marshall, 1992a, 1992b). Internal consistency is high: for female college students, SVAWS ranges from Cronbach’s alpha = 0.92 to 0.96; for community women, 0.89 to 0.96; for men (SVAMS), inferred as comparable (≈ 0.89–0.95). Specific subscale reliabilities are Threats (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.94) and Acts of Violence (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.95). 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.
Construct 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 ≈ 0.30–0.50). Factorial validity is evidenced by a two-factor structure (Threats and Acts of Violence). Criterion validity is shown by differentiating abused from non-abused individuals. Pairing with measures like the Composite Abuse Scale (Hegarty et al., 1999) or the Partner Abuse Scale – Physical (Hudson, 1997) enhances comprehensive IPV assessment.
Available Versions
46-Items
Reference
Marshall, L. L. (1992). Development of the severity of violence against women scales. Journal of family violence, 7(2), 103-121.
Marshall, L. L. (1992). The severity of violence against men scales. Journal of Family Violence, 7(3), 189-203.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Severity of Violence Against Women/Men Scale measure?
It measures the frequency and severity of threats and acts of violence in intimate relationships.
Who is the target population?
Males and females reporting on abuse with an intimate partner.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 12–15 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies abuse severity to guide clinical interventions and support services.
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