Victimization Assessment Tool – VAT
Measures history of abuse or violence, availability of protective social support, and immediate risk of self-harm or violence toward others.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Victimization Assessment Tool – VAT was developed by Lee Ann Hoff, L. Rosenbaum (1994). It is designed to measure Victimization and safety risk. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 5 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Victimization History, Support and Protection, Self-Harm Risk, Violence Risk.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Victimization History | 1,2 | 2 |
| Support and Protection | 3 | 1 |
| Self-Harm Risk | 4 | 1 |
| Violence Risk | 5 | 1 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous Yes/No format.
Scoring
Items are summed.
Total scores range from 1 to 5. Interpretation guidelines:
- No experience of physical violence or abuse: 1 – 1
- Experience of abuse/violence with minor physical and/or emotional trauma: 2 – 2
- Experience of abuse/violence with moderate physical and/or emotional trauma: 3 – 3
- Experience of abuse/violence with severe physical and/or emotional trauma: 4 – 4
- Life-threatening or prolonged abuse/violence with very severe physical and/or emotional trauma: 5 – 5
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.