Purpose

The goal of the [CTS2-78] scale is to assess the prevalence, frequency, and severity of four types of violence. Specifically, these types are physical assault, injury, psychological aggression, and sexual coercion. The results refer to both perpetration and victimization. The CTS2 scale is recommended for use in both research and clinical programs.

Questionnaire Analysis

The [CTS2-78] was developed by Straus, Hamby, Boney-McCoy, and Sugarman in 1996 and consists of 78 items. It evaluates four subscales: physical assault, injury, psychological aggression, and sexual coercion. These subscales assess both the occurrence and frequency of each type of violence. Additionally, each form of violence is categorized by severity into “minor” and “severe.” Generally, severe violence is considered to be behavior with a higher likelihood of resulting in injury requiring medical attention. Finally, the questionnaire examines the occurrence of violence (rate, frequency, severity) both in the past year and over the respondent’s lifetime.

Scoring Method and Statistical Analysis

Participants respond using the following scale:
(1) Once in the past year,
(2) Twice in the past year,
(3) 3–5 times in the past year,
(4) 6–10 times in the past year,
(5) 11–20 times in the past year,
(6) More than 20 times in the past year,
(7) Not in the past year but it has happened before,
(8) This has never happened.

It is important to note that responses can be scored in various ways. Different scores can be calculated for each subscale, for both perpetration and victimization. Scores may refer to the total of all items or be separated into minor and severe violence.

Validity and Reliability

The Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the [CTS2-78] perpetration subscales are:
α = .85 for physical assault,
α = .94 for injury,
α = .79 for sexual coercion, and
α = .67 for psychological aggression.

For the victimization subscales:
α = .84 for physical assault,
α = .90 for injury,
α = .59 for sexual coercion, and
α = .64 for psychological aggression.

References

Greek Literature
Kalaitzaki, A. E. (2009). The Theory of Relating Styles: Clinical and therapeutic applications. To Vima ton Koinonikon Epistimon, 14(54).

International Literature
Chapman, H., & Gillespie, S. M. (2019). The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2): A review of the properties, reliability, and validity of the CTS2 as a measure of partner abuse in community and clinical samples. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 44, 27–35.
Kalaitzaki, A. E., Birtchnell, J., & Kritsotakis, E. I. (2010). The associations between negative relating and aggression in the dating relationships of students from Greece. Partner Abuse, 1(4), 420–442.
Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Boney-McCoy, S., & Sugarman, D. B. (1996). The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2): Development and preliminary psychometric data. Journal of Family Issues, 17(3), 283–316.