Diverse Adolescent Relational Aggression Scale

Abstract

The Diverse Adolescent Relational Aggression Scale (DARAS) is a robust, specialized psychological scale developed in 2010 by K. Horton to measure the frequency and intensity of relational aggression perpetrated by and experienced among adolescents. Relational aggression is defined broadly as the use of psychological, social, and indirect physical tactics intended to damage another individual’s social standing or peer relationships.

The DARAS is a 37-item self-report instrument that uniquely captures the diversity of aggressive behaviors, including modern forms such as cyber aggression. Structured around four empirically derived subscales, the instrument provides a nuanced assessment of aggressive tendencies. It serves as a vital tool in developmental research and clinical settings for identifying high-risk adolescents and evaluating the efficacy of targeted anti-aggression interventions aimed at reducing relational harm.

Keywords

Diverse Adolescent Relational Aggression Scale, DARAS, relational aggression, social aggression, cyber aggression, psychological measurement, youth assessment, developmental psychology.

Authors

Horton, K.

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Purpose

The primary purpose of the Diverse Adolescent Relational Aggression Scale (DARAS) is to offer a comprehensive and psychometrically sound methodology for assessing the level of relational aggression experienced and perpetrated by young people. This scale was designed specifically to move beyond simplistic, binary definitions of aggression, instead capturing the complexity and diversity of methods adolescents utilize to manipulate social standing or inflict emotional and social harm on peers.

In clinical and research contexts, the DARAS facilitates the crucial objective of identifying adolescents who are at heightened risk of engaging in aggressive behaviors or who are chronic victims of relational harm. Furthermore, the instrument is widely employed to evaluate the effectiveness of preventative programs, such as anti-bullying initiatives and social skills training interventions, thereby ensuring that remedial strategies successfully reduce the incidence of relational harm across diverse adolescent populations.

Construct

The DARAS measures the psychological construct of Relational Aggression (RA), specifically tailored to the nuances of the adolescent population. Relational aggression encompasses behaviors intended to damage an individual’s peer relationships, social reputation, or feelings of self-worth. Unlike overt physical aggression, RA is often covert, psychological, and manipulative in nature.

The scale operationalizes RA across multiple diverse modalities, acknowledging that contemporary aggressive behavior extends beyond traditional, face-to-face social environments to encompass digital platforms. The 37 items collectively assess the frequency and intensity of behaviors directly related to social exclusion, rumor spreading, calculated manipulation of friendships, and various forms of digital harassment or cyber aggression.

Validity

The DARAS has been established as a valid measure of relational aggression among adolescents. Validation studies conducted during the instrument’s development confirmed that the scale effectively measures the theoretical construct of relational aggression and maintains appropriate discrimination from other related but distinct psychological constructs. This strong evidence supports the instrument’s utility in accurately assessing the specific behaviors it targets.

A key contributor to the scale’s construct validity is its empirically supported four-factor structure, derived from factor analysis. This structure ensures that distinct forms of aggressive behavior (e.g., verbal versus cyber aggression) are accurately delineated and measured separately, providing a more comprehensive and accurate profile of an individual’s aggressive style than single-factor scales.

Reliability

Research confirms that the DARAS is a highly reliable measure of adolescent relational aggression. Reliability, in this context, signifies the consistency of the scale’s results when administered across different time points and varied samples of young people. High internal consistency and test-retest reliability suggest that the measurements obtained reflect true, stable differences in aggressive behavior rather than being attributable to random measurement error.

Beyond consistency, the DARAS has also been recognized for its strong predictive reliability. It serves as a valuable predictive tool in developmental psychology, demonstrating the ability to forecast subsequent aggressive behavior among adolescents, which is essential for effective early intervention planning.

Factor Analysis

The Diverse Adolescent Relational Aggression Scale consists of 37 items that are organized into four distinct, empirically derived subscales. These subscales were identified through comprehensive factor analysis performed during the scale’s initial construction and validation process. The multi-factor structure allows researchers and clinicians to assess and profile distinct components of an individual’s aggressive style, moving beyond a single total score.

The four subscales, which collectively provide a comprehensive profile of relational aggression, are:

• Verbal Aggression (e.g., gossiping, spreading rumors)
• Physical Aggression (used relationally or indirectly, such as damage to property or indirect intimidation)
• Social Aggression (e.g., social exclusion, manipulating friendships)
• Cyber Aggression (e.g., digital harassment, negative posting on social media)

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire; Psychological scale

Format: The instrument consists of 37 items. Responses are collected using a 4-point Likert scale, typically structured as: a. Strongly Agree, b. Agree, c. Disagree, d. Strongly Disagree.

Language Available: English (Original development language)

Population Group: Adolescents

Age Group: Typically utilized with middle to high school students, corresponding to an estimated age range of 12 to 18 years.

Population Details: Developed to assess relational aggression across diverse adolescent populations, accounting for varied social and cultural contexts in which aggression manifests.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement regarding various aggressive behaviors, attitudes toward aggression, and perceived behaviors within their peer, family, and community interactions.

Keywords

DARAS, behavioral prediction, social exclusion, peer relationships, youth violence prevention, school psychology, psychometric properties.

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Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A

Correspondence Address: Correspondence regarding the scale is typically handled through the author’s affiliated institution at the time of publication, which was the University of Texas at Arlington.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 2010 (The year the instrument was developed and validated as part of a doctoral dissertation).

Permissions & Fee: Permissions and any associated fees for the use of the DARAS are typically determined by the author, K. Horton, or the institution that holds the copyright, the University of Texas at Arlington. Prospective researchers are advised to consult the original dissertation document for specific usage policies and licensing requirements.

Reference’s

Horton, K. (2010). The diverse adolescent relational aggression scale: Development and validation. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Texas at Arlington, 2010).

The original PDF can be downloaded here: https://dspace.uta.edu/bitstream/handle/10106/4875/Horton_uta_2502D_10589.pdf?sequence=1

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Items of the Diverse Adolescent Relational Aggression Scale

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

In your interactions with your peers, family and community, do you agree with the following:

1. It is okay to talk about someone you don’t like.
2. I have told a “mean joke” about someone in front of a group.
3. It is okay to repeat a rumor that you’ve heard.
4. When someone is talked about badly, their popularity might decrease.
5. When someone is talked about badly, it is okay for them to “get back” at that person who was talking about them.
6. When you hear that a peer/friend has been talking negatively about you, you should confront them.
7. When you hear that a peer/friend has been talking negatively about you, it is okay to respond by talking negatively about them.
8. It is okay to talk about a friend if you are just joking.
9. It is okay to avoid your friend if you’re mad at them.
10. It is okay to post on your website something negative about a peer that made you mad.
11. Girls spread rumors more than boys.
12. Girls will ignore a friend more than boys.
13. Boys talk about their friends.
14. When people are whispering and looking in your direction they are probably talking about you.
15. I have talked with a friend of someone I did not like in order to make the person I did not like mad.
16. It is okay to stare at (mean-mug) someone you do not like.
17. It is okay to talk about someone behind their back.
18. If someone stares at you for a while…they probably do not like you.
19. I have talked negatively about someone when they were not around.
20. I have heard an adult talking negatively about their friend when they were not around.
21. I have heard my parent talking negatively about their friend when they were not around.
22. I have heard my sibling talking negatively about their friend when they were not around.
23. I have heard a friend talk negatively about another friend when they were not around.
24. I have heard people in my neighborhood talk about someone behind their back.
25. My parent has encouraged me to talk about a friend.
26. My friend has treated me badly without telling me what I did.
27. Just for fun, my friend and I have talked about someone when they walked by.
28. When someone is dressed poorly, it is okay to talk about them.

Response Options: a. Strongly Agree/ b. Agree/ c. Disagree/ d. Strongly Disagree