Personal and Relationships Profile [PRP-197]

Description

The Personal and Relationships Profile (PRP-197) is a multidimensional 197-item instrument designed to identify factors associated with the development of aggressive and violent behaviors. The instrument is organized into two major categories: Intrapersonal Scales and Relationship Scales.

The intrapersonal section includes 17 subscales, while the relationship section includes 8 subscales. The intrapersonal scales assess factors such as antisocial attitudes, depression, dependency, criminal history, childhood sexual abuse, and cognitive distortions. The relationship scales focus on conflict, maltreatment, trauma, and controlling strategies.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the PRP-197 is to assess etiological and associated factors of violence, with particular emphasis on both intrapersonal and interpersonal variables related to aggressive or violent behavior.

The instrument can help provide a broader understanding of personal and relational characteristics that may be associated with an increased risk of violence or abuse. According to the source material, its use is oriented toward prevention, assessment, and intervention in individuals who may perpetrate or experience violence.

Structure

The PRP-197 is divided into two broad groups of variables.

The Intrapersonal Scales assess individual characteristics, experiences, and attitudes. These include, among others, antisocial attitudes, depression, dependency, criminal history, childhood sexual abuse, and cognitive distortions.

The Relationship Scales focus on interpersonal dynamics and include factors such as conflict, maltreatment, trauma, and controlling strategies.

This multidimensional structure allows a more comprehensive profile of factors that may be associated with violent or dysfunctional behavior.

Scoring

The 197 statements are rated on a four-point Likert scale:

1 = Strongly Disagree
2 = Disagree
3 = Agree
4 = Strongly Agree

Each subscale score is calculated as the mean of the relevant item scores. Overall assessment may be conducted either at the individual subscale level or through aggregate indicators representing personal and relationship-related risk factors.

Validity

According to the source document, the face, content, and construct validity of the PRP have been examined through associations with other relevant measures.

Significant relationships have been reported between PRP subscales and instruments such as the PROQ2 and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2). Statistically significant positive correlations were observed with physical assault, injury, psychological aggression, and sexual coercion, supporting the validity of the instrument.

Reliability

The internal consistency coefficients reported in the source material are generally satisfactory. Examples include:

Antisocial Attitudes: Cronbach’s α = 0.73
Traumatic Personality: α = 0.74
Criminal History: α = 0.81
Depression: α = 0.79

Overall, reliability coefficients across the subscales range from 0.62 to 0.86.

Data Analysis and Use

The PRP-197 may be used in research or clinical contexts involving violence, abuse, trauma, and high-risk relationships.

The subscales allow both quantitative and qualitative examination of risk factors and individual profiles. According to the source material, the data may be used for assessment purposes, treatment planning, and evaluation of intervention programs.

Applications

The PRP-197 may be applied in research on intimate partner violence, aggression, abuse, trauma, and dysfunctional relationships, as well as in studies examining how personal and relational factors interact.

Its multidimensional structure allows detailed mapping of different risk factors and may support research or clinical procedures requiring a broader assessment of both the individual and the relationship context.

References

Kalaitzaki, A. E., Britchnell, J., & Kristotakis, E. (2010). The associations between negative relating and aggression in the dating relationships of students from Greece. Partner Abuse: New Directions in Research, Intervention, and Policy, 1(4), 420–442.

Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Boney-McCoy, S., & Sugarman, D. (1999). The Personal and Relationships Profile (PRP). Durham, NH: Family Research Laboratory, University of New Hampshire.

Straus, M. A., & Mouradian, V. E. (1999). Preliminary psychometric data for the Personal and Relationships Profile (PRP): A multi-scale tool for clinical screening and research on partner violence. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology, Toronto, Ontario.