Description

The Self-Reported Delinquency – Problem Behavior Frequency Scale (SRD-PBFS-25) is a self-report psychometric instrument designed to assess the frequency of delinquent and antisocial behaviours among adolescents.

The scale consists of 25 items covering a range of problematic behaviours, including:

Physical Aggression, referring to aggressive actions toward others.

Rule-Breaking Behaviours, referring to violations of social or institutional rules.

Substance Use, assessing involvement in alcohol or drug-related behaviours.

Sexual Behaviours, evaluating potentially risky or problematic sexual activities.

Property Damage, referring to behaviours involving destruction or damage to property.

Participants report how often they have engaged in specific behaviours during a defined period, such as the previous month or year.

Objective

The primary objective of the SRD-PBFS-25 is to record and measure delinquent and antisocial behaviour patterns in adolescents.

The scale aims to:

Identify the frequency and types of problem behaviours.

Examine behavioural patterns associated with adolescent psychosocial development.

Evaluate prevention programs and intervention strategies.

Support research investigating risk factors associated with delinquency and antisocial behaviour.

Structure and Content

The questionnaire assesses multiple domains of adolescent problem behaviour, allowing researchers to examine both overall delinquency and specific behavioural categories.

The main domains include:

Aggressive behaviour.

Rule-breaking behaviour.

Substance-related behaviours.

Sexual risk behaviours.

Property-related offences.

The self-report format allows adolescents to provide direct information about their own behavioural experiences.

Scoring Method

Each item is rated according to behavioural frequency using a six-point response scale:

1 = Never

2 = 1–2 times

3 = 3–5 times

4 = 6–9 times

5 = 10–19 times

6 = 20 or more times

Item scores are summed to produce a total delinquency frequency score.

Higher scores indicate greater involvement in delinquent or problematic behaviours.

Data Analysis and Use

The SRD-PBFS-25 is used to measure the prevalence and frequency of adolescent delinquent behaviours and to examine changes in behaviour patterns over time.

Data analysis may include:

Descriptive statistics to estimate the prevalence and frequency of delinquent behaviours.

Reliability analysis using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient to evaluate internal consistency.

Factor analysis to examine the underlying dimensions of problem behaviours.

Correlation analysis to investigate relationships between delinquency and psychosocial variables such as family environment, peer influence, psychological characteristics, and social factors.

Comparative analyses to examine differences according to age, gender, educational environment, or intervention participation.

The scale is widely used in adolescent research, prevention programs, and evaluation studies.

Validity

The validity of self-reported delinquency measures is supported by their ability to capture behaviours that may not always be reflected in official records.

The instrument contributes to understanding adolescent risk behaviours, behavioural development, and factors associated with delinquency.

Reliability

Reliability evaluation focuses on determining whether the items consistently measure the frequency of delinquent behaviours.

Internal consistency analysis and psychometric evaluation are used to assess the stability and accuracy of the scale across adolescent populations.

Applications

The SRD-PBFS-25 can be applied in:

Adolescent psychology research.

Juvenile delinquency studies.

School-based prevention programs.

Public health research on youth risk behaviours.

Evaluation of behavioural interventions.

Longitudinal studies of adolescent development.

References

Jessor, R., & Jessor, S. L. (1977). Problem Behavior and Psychological Development: A Longitudinal Study of Youth. New York: Academic Press.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths: A Compendium of Assessment Tools.