National Violence Against Women Survey – Stalking Module (NVAWS-S)
Measures the prevalence, frequency, and severity of stalking victimization.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The National Violence Against Women Survey – Stalking Module (NVAWS-S) was developed by Patricia Tjaden, Nancy Thoennes (1998). It is designed to measure Stalking victimization. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 11 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Stalking Behaviors, Frequency, Fear and Severity.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Stalking Behaviors | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 | 8 |
| Frequency | 9 | 1 |
| Fear and Severity | 10,11 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: yes_no = Yes / No (Items 1-9, 11), fear_level = Very frightened / Somewhat frightened / Just a little frightened / Not really frightened (Item 10).
Scoring
Items are summed.
Total scores range from 0 to 1. Interpretation guidelines:
- Does not meet criteria for stalking victimization: 0 – 0
- Meets criteria for stalking victimization (experienced >=1 behavior on >1 occasion, and felt very frightened or feared serious harm/death): 1 – 1
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.