Problem Behavior Frequency Scale – PBFS
Measures the frequency of physical, verbal, and relational aggression in adolescents.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Problem Behavior Frequency Scale – PBFS was developed by Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Behrens, J. (2005). It is designed to measure Aggression and Problem Behavior. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 18 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Physical Aggression, Verbal Aggression, Relational Aggression.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Aggression | 1,2,4,5,6,7 | 6 |
| Verbal Aggression | 3,8,9,10,12 | 5 |
| Relational Aggression | 11,13,14,15,16,17,18 | 7 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = 0 times, 1 = 1-2 times, 2 = 3-5 times, 3 = 6-9 times, 4 = 10-19 times, 5 = 20 or more times.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.80 – 0.90.
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.