Child-To-Parent Aggression Questionnaire (CPAQ) and Reasons for Aggression Questionnaire (RAQ): Psychometric Properties in a Sample of Ecuadorian Adolescents

Abstract

Child-to-parent violence occurs when a child exerts violence toward their caregivers. Given the rise of this phenomenon, valid measurement tools are needed to identify the occurrence and underlying motives of this violence. Currently, most measures have been validated in Western populations. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Child-to-Parent Aggression Questionnaire (CPAQ) and the Reasons for Aggression Questionnaire (RAQ) among 527 Ecuadorian adolescents aged 10 to 18 years (M = 13.10; SD = 2.04). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed to assess internal structure validity. The Inventory Parental-Peer Attachment (IPPA) was used for convergent validity. A single-factor structure for violence toward both the mother (CPAQ-M) and the father (CPAQ-F) was found in EFA and confirmed in CFA. The two-factor structure (psychological and physical violence) presented good fit indices as well. The expected relationships between the CPAQ and the IPPA (total score and the Communication, Trust and, Alienation subdimensions) were found. Concerning the RAQ, a single-factor structure was confirmed for the Reasons for annoying (RAQ-A) and the Reason for hitting (RAQ-H) directed toward both parents. Additionally, the CFA confirmed that the three-factor structure (instrumental, affective, and defensive reasons) showed a good fit to the data for both the mother and the father. Internal consistency was also excellent in each parallel version with values >.90. In conclusion, the CPAQ emerges as a valuable instrument suitable for application within the adolescent Ecuadorian population, while the RAQ shows promise as an instrument for similar use within this demographic.