Psychometric properties of the modified conflict tactics scale. Application in the Ecuadorian adolescent context

Abstract

The study of adolescent dating violence is relevant for Public Health, given its predictive nature and the social impact of this variable on the coexistence of the adult population. Dating violence rating scales need to be validated to ensure the reliability and certainty of their results. Objective: To analyze the psychometric properties of the modified M-CTS conflict tactics scale in the context of dating violence among Ecuadorian adolescents. Materials and methods: This is a validation study through confirmatory factor analysis and analysis of linguistic and cultural variables, with probabilistic sampling (n = 1249) with ages between 12-20 years, who met the requirements of having or having had a dating relationship. Results: 6 questions were culturally modified, and the 4-factor structure of the questionnaire was verified (argumentation, psychological violence, mild physical and severe physical). Low reliability was found for the perpetrator argument (0.26) and victimization (026) items and good reliability for severe physical violence for both profiles (0.80 and 0.76). Main conclusions:The cultural adaptation of the M-CTS offered adequate validity for the diverse types of violence in the Ecuadorian adolescent population, allowing to compare the prevalence found in other countries that used this instrument based on the same theoretical and methodological perspectives.