Victimization—Problem Behavior Frequency Scale (VPBFS)
Measures the frequency of relational and overt peer victimization among adolescents.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Victimization—Problem Behavior Frequency Scale (VPBFS) was developed by Multisite Violence Prevention Project (2004). It is designed to measure Peer Victimization. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and youth.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 12 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Relational Victimization, Overt Victimization.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Relational Victimization | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | 6 |
| Overt Victimization | 7,8,9,10,11,12 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never, 2 = 1-2 times, 3 = 3-5 times, 4 = 6-9 times, 5 = 10-19 times, 6 = 20 or more times.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 6 to 36. Interpretation guidelines:
- No Victimization: 6 – 6
- Low Victimization: 7 – 12
- Moderate Victimization: 13 – 24
- High Victimization: 25 – 36
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.