Violent Intentions – Teen Conflict Survey

Abstract

The Violent Intentions—Teen Conflict Survey is an eight-item, self-report research instrument developed to measure behavioral intentions related to conflict resolution among youth. Developed through a collaboration involving the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the survey assesses the strength of an adolescent’s stated intent to utilize constructive, non-violent strategies when faced with interpersonal disputes or intense anger. This scale is primarily used in public health and educational settings to identify protective factors against violence and to inform the design of effective prevention programs targeting the middle school population.

Keywords

Adolescent violence, conflict resolution, non-violent intentions, anger management, behavioral assessment, NIMH, CDC, youth psychology.

Authors

Bosworth K, Espelage D.

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Purpose

The primary function of the Violent Intentions—Teen Conflict Survey is twofold. First, it serves as a tool for collecting essential epidemiological data concerning the prevalence of risk factors associated with violent behavior within the adolescent population. This data is critical for supporting public health initiatives, guiding policymakers, and ensuring the appropriate allocation of resources necessary for youth violence prevention.

Second, the scale operates as a specialized predictive assessment for conflict management styles. By gauging the likelihood that an adolescent will intentionally select constructive alternatives—such as engaging in rational discussion or suggesting third-party intervention—the instrument helps researchers differentiate between youth who are cognitively prepared to use positive coping mechanisms and those who might resort to aggressive or retaliatory actions when provoked.

Construct

The central psychological construct measured is Non-Violent Intentions in Conflict Resolution. This construct is defined as an individual’s self-reported inclination and cognitive preparedness to employ socially acceptable and constructive methods for regulating internal emotional frustration, specifically anger, and managing external interpersonal conflicts.

The instrument assesses behavioral intent, which is a recognized precursor to actual behavior in many behavioral change models. By framing the questions around hypothetical scenarios where the respondent is “really angry,” the survey effectively captures the strength of their commitment to constructive engagement and conflict avoidance, providing a powerful measure of an individual’s psychological resilience against aggressive impulses.

Validity

Specific quantitative indices of validity, such as criterion or construct validity coefficients, were not detailed in the original source documentation. However, the scale’s development under the rigorous oversight of major governmental health agencies, including the CDC and the NIMH, strongly suggests a robust foundation in content validity. This institutional backing ensures that the items are highly relevant and representative of the theoretical constructs of youth conflict and non-violent responses.

Furthermore, its official inclusion in the CDC’s comprehensive compendium of violence-related assessment tools affirms its recognized utility and face validity as a reliable measure for examining factors crucial to the prevention of violent behavior in both school and community contexts.

Reliability

The source materials do not provide traditional psychometric reliability metrics, such as Cronbach’s Alpha for internal consistency or test-retest reliability measures. While the measure is widely utilized, subsequent researchers employing the Violent Intentions—Teen Conflict Survey are strongly advised to establish the psychometric stability and dependability of the resulting scores within their specific sample population prior to drawing conclusions.

Factor Analysis

Formal documentation detailing a comprehensive factor analysis performed on the items of the Violent Intentions—Teen Conflict Survey is absent from the original source. Based strictly on the prescribed scoring methodology, where all eight items are linearly summed to produce a single total score (ranging from 8 to 32), the scale is functionally treated as a unidimensional measure. This single dimension is interpreted as the overall propensity toward utilizing non-violent conflict resolution strategies.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report attitude and behavioral intention survey.

Format: Eight items rated on a 4-point Likert-style scale.

Language Available: English (Original development language).

Population Group: Adolescents (Teenagers).

Age Group: 12 to 18 years old (specifically noted for middle school students, grades 6-8).

Population Details: The scale is administered to youth to gauge their behavioral intentions related to managing anger and conflict. It is widely used in research studies focused on the prevalence of adolescent violence and prevention strategies.

Test Methodology: Respondents are instructed to imagine a scenario where they are experiencing “really angry” feelings and then rate the likelihood of performing eight specified actions. Responses are scored from 1 (Very unlikely) to 4 (Very likely). Item 2 is explicitly reverse scored. The total score is the sum of the eight items, with a potential range of 8 to 32. A higher total score indicates a stronger intention to employ constructive and non-violent conflict resolution strategies.

Keywords

Conflict management, violence prevention, adolescent psychology, survey methodology, emotional regulation, public health research, behavioral intent.

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Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Correspondence Address: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Violent Intentions—Teen Conflict Survey was developed in 1995 by authors Bosworth K and Espelage D while affiliated with the Center for Adolescent Studies at Indiana University. It is categorized as an unpublished research instrument.

Due to its inclusion in a publicly accessible compendium published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the scale is generally accessible for research use. The instrument can be located on page 122 of the publication Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths: A Compendium of Assessment Tools. The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/YV_Compendium.pdf

Reference’s

• Bosworth K, Espelage D. Teen Conflict Survey. Bloomington, IN: Center for Adolescent Studies, Indiana University, 1995. (Unpublished)

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths: A Compendium of Assessment Tools (p. 122). Atlanta, GA: CDC.

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Items of the Violent Intentions—Teen Conflict Survey

The next time you find yourself really angry at someone or something, how likely is it that you would …

Point values are assigned as follows:

• Very likely = 4

• Likely = 3

• Unlikely = 2

• Very unlikely = 1

Item 2 is reverse scored. Responses are summed, with a possible range of 8 to 32. High scores indicate a stronger intention to use non-violent strategies.

1. Ignore the situation?

2. Ignore the situation and get the person later?

3. Try to talk it out?

4. Suggest peer mediation?

5. Channel your anger into something constructive?

6. Laugh it off?

7. Try to reduce your anger?

8. Try to see the other person’s point of view?