Can the SAVRY be used with males and females?
The SAVRY may be useful in assessments with either male or female adolescents, since research suggests that many risk and protective factors operate similarly for both genders. It is important to note, however, that a substantial proportion of existing research on violence risk factors has been conducted only on males, and we have yet to analyze systematic gender differences in SAVRY-coded items. In the manual, where there is known research to indicate that a given risk factor may apply differently to males and females, we have attempted to note this in the specific item descriptions. As empirical data become available on gender-based differences on SAVRY-coded items, we may work toward a modified form of the instrument that more specifically addresses risk issues with adolescent girls.
