Abstract
The Multidimensional Peer Victimization Scale (MPVS; Mynard and Joseph, British Journal of Educational Psychology, 67, 51-54 2000) is a 16-item self-report scale that captures peer victimization across four dimensions: physical victimization, verbal victimization, social manipulation, and attacks on property. Performance of the scale has not been evaluated among older adolescents. We examined the factor structure, internal consistency reliability, and performance of the scale in two separate epidemiological U.S. samples representing different age groups: 9–14 year olds (N = 610) and 15–17 year olds (N = 524). The four-factor structure of the scale was affirmed in both samples, however; there was not metric invariance by gender in the younger age group. The scale and its subscales were found to have good internal consistency. Expected relationships between the MPVS and measures of irritability, anxiety, and depression were affirmed. Results support continued use of the MPVS among child and adolescent samples.
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Acknowledgements
This project was supported by National Institute of Mental Health grants R01MH098055 (J.M.H.), R01MH101518 (R.R.-N.), T32MH020030 (M.L.E.), as well as UL1TR000058 from the National Center for Research Resources (for REDCap). We are grateful for the contributions of the twins and their families who participated in the studies providing data for this article.
Funding
This study was funded by National Institute of Mental Health grants R01MH098055 and R01MH101518, T32MH020030, as well as UL1TR000058 from the National Center for Research Resources (for REDCap).
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Meridith L. Eastman, Ashlee A. Moore, Jennifer Cecilione, John M. Hettema, and Roxann Roberson-Nay declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Eastman, M.L., Moore, A.A., Cecilione, J. et al. Confirmatory Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Peer Victimization Scale. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 40, 725–735 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-018-9678-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-018-9678-2