Validation of the Deviant Peers Scale in Spanish Adolescents: a New Measure to Assess Antisocial Behaviour in Peers

Abstract

Substantial evidence has shown the strong effects of being affiliated with deviant peers on adolescent’s antisocial behaviour. However, any measure has been consistently used in this field to evaluate that influence. Therefore, the main objective of the current study was to validate a measure to assess the presence of antisocial behaviour in peer groups within the Spanish context. The final sample was composed of 1148 adolescents from secondary schools in Galicia (NW Spain), aged 12 to 18 (M = 13.28; SD = 1.27), 51.9% males. The exploratory analyses indicated the existence of two factors in the structure of the scale: a factor related to antisocial behaviour and another factor specifically related to drugs. Overall, the results confirmed the adequate internal consistency, construct validity, and criterion validity of the scale. Therefore, this study proposes the Deviant Peers Scale as a useful instrument for Spanish-speaking contexts aimed to evaluate the influence of deviant affiliations on adolescent problematic behaviour. Theoretical and practical implications of these contributions are discussed.