Propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Ciber-Violencia en Parejas Adolescentes (Cib-VPA)

Abstract

The use that adolescents make of social networks, mobile and the Internet to perpetrate violence towards their couple is worrying. Hence, it is necessary to have reliable instruments specific to the adolescent population to facilitate the evaluation of both harassment and victimization situations. The objective of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Scale of Cyber-violence in Adolescent Couples (Cib-VPA). This scale consists of two sub-scales, Cyber-harassment perpetrated and Cyber-victimization, with 10 items related to aggressive and control behaviors that can be perpetrated or suffered through social networks in adolescent couples. From an initial sample of 762 adolescents aged 12-18, those who had a partner or had had a partner in the last year completed the Cib-VPA. The final sample included 363 adolescents (56.6 % girls). Factorial analysis confirmed two similar factors in each sub-scale: cyber-control (excessive control behaviors) and cyber-aggression (threats and insults through social networks). The reliability of these factors is adequate in the two subscales. Positive correlations between cyber-control and - perpetrated and suffered - cyber-aggression, violence and victimization behaviors in adolescent couples outside social networks are also observed.