Shortened Relationship Conflict Tactics Scale
Abstract: The Shortened Relationship Conflict Tactics Scale is a 30-item measure specifically developed to assess conflict in romantic relationships. It is a revised version of the Conflict Tactics Scale (Strauss, 1979). Fifteen questions are directed to the student about his/her current girlfriend/boyfriend. The other 15 questions are asked about the boyfriend's or girlfriend's behavior toward the student. The questions deal with how the couple has handled disagreements in the past year; two examples, for instance, are "I showed my boyfriend/girlfriend I cared for him/her even though we disagreed" and "I slapped my boyfriend/girlfriend." The violent and nonviolent behaviors are interspersed with one another and do not progress from less aggressive to more aggressive. The items are rated on a seven-point scale, ranging from zero "this has never happened" to 6 "more than 20 times in the past year." Respondents are also given the option to rate the behavior with a "P" to indicate that the behavior had occurred in the distant past, but not in the past year. This instrument has eighteen scales, nine that reflect how the student behaved toward his/her current boyfriend/girlfriend and nine that reflect how the student's boyfriend/girlfriend behaved toward the student. Six of these scales reflect behaviors that occurred during the past year, while another six scales reflect behaviors that occurred in the distant past but NOT in the past year. Finally the last six scores contrast whether the behaviors had never occurred versus having occurred at sometime during the student's lifetime. Several of the scales indicated floor effects. Analysts should note that the item, "How long have you been together?", is an open-ended response question that is not included in analyses for this report. Most of the items and scales are straightforward in use and interpretation. The high internal consistency for most of the scales suggests that these scales should be useful in studying conflict in romantic relationships for couples.
Who Completed this Measure?: select one
Cohort 1 - Administrative History
- Year 11 | grade 10 | age 16
- Year 12 | grade 11 | age 17
- Year 13 | grade 12 | age 18
- Year 14 | age 19
- Year 15 | age 20
Cohort 2 - Administrative History
- Year 11 | grade 10 | age 16
- Year 12 | grade 11 | age 17
- Year 13 | grade 12 | age 18
- Year 14 | age 19
- Year 15 | age 20
Cohort 3 - Administrative History
- Year 11 | grade 10 | age 16
- Year 12 | grade 11 | age 17
- Year 13 | grade 12 | age 18
- Year 14 | age 19
- Year 15 | age 20
Technical Reports:
Raw Dataset Name: CxAR
Scored Dataset Name: RCTySCc
Keywords:
Communication, Emotional Response, Physical Aggression, Romantic Relationships
Is this Measure Available for Public Use?: Yes
Obtain Measure:
Download the measure here
SAS Code for Scale Creation:
Download the code here
Measure Items and Scales:
| site | Site Name |
| tcid | Child ID Number |
| C11AR7 | How long have you (or had you) been together? |
| cohort | Cohort |
| intid | Interviewer ID |
| C11AR5 | Do you currently have a boyfriend or girlfriend? |
| C11AR6 | Have you had boyfriend or girlfriend this past year? |
| C11AR8 | I showed my boyfriend/girlfriend I cared for him/her even though we disagreed. |
| C11AR9 | My boyfriend/girlfriend showed that he/she cared for me even though we disagreed. |
| C11AR10 | I insulted or swore at my boyfriend/girlfriend. |
| C11AR11 | My boyfriend/girlfriend insulted or swore at me. |
| C11AR12 | I threw something at my boyfriend/girlfriend that could hurt. |
| C11AR13 | My boyfriend/girlfriend threw something at me that could hurt. |
| C11AR14 | I twisted my boyfriend/girlfriend's arm or hair. |
| C11AR15 | My boyfriend/girlfriend twisted my arm or my hair. |
| C11AR16 | I showed respect for my boyfriend/girlfriend's feelings about an issue. |
| C11AR17 | My boyfriend/girlfriend showed respect for my feelings about an issue. |
| C11AR18 | I pushed or shoved my boyfriend/girlfriend. |
| C11AR19 | My boyfriend/girlfriend pushed or shoved me. |
| C11AR20 | I punched or hit my boyfriend/girlfriend with something that could hurt. |
| C11AR21 | My boyfriend/girlfriend punched or hit me with something that could hurt. |
| C11AR22 | I destroyed something belonging to my boyfriend/girlfriend. |
| C11AR23 | My boyfriend/girlfriend destroyed something belonging to me. |
| C11AR24 | I shouted or yelled at my boyfriend/girlfriend. |
| C11AR25 | My boyfriend/girlfriend shouted or yelled at me. |
| C11AR26 | I said that I was sure we could work out a problem. |
| C11AR27 | My boyfriend/girlfriend said he/she was sure we could work out a problem. |
| C11AR28 | I grabbed my boyfriend/girlfriend. |
| C11AR29 | My boyfriend/girlfriend grabbed me. |
| C11AR30 | I slapped my boyfriend/girlfriend. |
| C11AR31 | My boyfriend/girlfriend slapped me. |
| C11AR32 | I suggested a compromise to a disagreement. |
| C11AR33 | My boyfriend/girlfriend suggested a compromise to a disagreement. |
| C11AR34 | I threatened to hit or throw something at my boyfriend/girlfriend. |
| C11AR35 | My boyfriend/girlfriend threatened to hit or throw something at me. |
| C11AR36 | I kicked my boyfriend/girlfriend. |
| C11AR37 | My boyfriend/girlfriend kicked me. |
| sitecode | Actual Site Code Number Entered |
| c11ar1 | c11ar1 |
| c11ar2 | c11ar2 |
| c11ar3 | c11ar3 |