Citation

Farrell AD, Thompson EL, Mehari KR, Sullivan TN, Goncy EA. Assessment 2018; ePub(ePub): 1073191118792089.

Affiliation

Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1073191118792089

PMID

30071749

Abstract

This study evaluated the Problem Behavior Frequency Scale-Adolescent Report (PBFS-AR), a measure designed to assess adolescents' frequency of victimization, aggression, substance use, and delinquent behavior. Participants were 1,263 students (50% female; 78% African American, 18% Latino) from three urban middle schools in the United States. Confirmatory factor analyses of competing models of the structure of the PBFS-AR supported a model that differentiated among three forms of aggression (in-person physical, in-person relational, and cyber), two forms of victimization (in-person and cyber), substance use, and delinquent behavior. This seven-factor model fit the data well and demonstrated strong measurement invariance across groups that differed on sex and grade. Support was found for concurrent validity of the PBFS-AR based on its pattern of relations with school office discipline referrals.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescence; aggression; cyber aggression and victimization; measurement invariance; problem behaviors; school office referrals; victimization