2015/03/04 by Lucy R. Betts, James E. Houston, Oonagh L. Steer · 69 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression #Environmental science #Intimate Partner and Family Violence #Physics #Scale (ratio) #Stalking, Cyberstalking, and Harassment
paper · doi:10.1080/00221325.2015.1007915
published in The Journal of Genetic Psychology 176(2), 93-109 (Taylor & Francis)
crossref issued 2015/03/04 · crossref published 2015/03/04 · crossref published-print 2015/03/04 · openalex publication_date 2015/03/04 · crossref published-online 2015/03/16 · crossref created 2015/03/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref deposited 2026/01/20 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31 · crossref indexed 2026/07/31
Peer victimization is a frequent occurrence for many adolescents; however, some of the psychometric properties of self-report scales assessing these experiences remain unclear. Furthermore, with an increase in access to technology, electronic aggression should also be considered. The authors examined the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Peer Victimization Scale (MPVS; Mynard & Joseph, 2000), and developed versions to include the assessment of electronic aggression according to whether the adolescent was the target or perpetrator of peer victimization. A total of 371 (191 girls and 180 boys; Mage = 13 years 4 months, SDage = 1 year 2 months) adolescents in the United Kingdom completed the MPVS including five newly developed items assessing electronic aggression, a version of the MPVS designed to assess victimization perpetration, and a measure of self-esteem. Confirmatory factor analyses yielded a five-factor structure comprising: Physical, social manipulation, verbal, attacks on property, and electronic for both scales. Convergent validity was established through negative associations between the victimization scales and self-esteem. Sex differences also emerged. One revised scale and one new scale are subsequently proposed: The MPVS-Revised and the Multidimensional Peer Bullying Scale.