title: Assessing the forms and functions of aggression using self-report: factor structure and invariance of the Peer Conflict Scale in youths.
abstract: This study examined the structure of a self-report measure of the forms and functions of aggression in 855 adolescents (582 boys, 266 girls) aged 12 to 19 years recruited from high school, detained, and residential settings. The Peer Conflict Scale (PCS) is a 40-item measure that was developed to improve upon existing measures and provide an efficient, reliable, and valid assessment of four dimensions of aggression (i.e., reactive overt, reactive relational, proactive overt, and proactive relational) in youths. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that a 4-factor model represented a satisfactory solution for the data. The factor structure fit well for both boys and girls and across high school, detained, and residential samples. Internal consistency estimates were good for the 4 factors, and they showed expected associations with externalizing variables (i.e., arrest history, callous-unemotional traits, and delinquency). Reactive and proactive subtypes showed unique associations consistent with previous literature. Implications for the use of the PCS to assess aggression and inform intervention decisions in diverse samples of youths are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Monica A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Marsee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi.
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Kristina K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Childs
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Frick
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, University of South Florida.
authors.forename: Eva R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Kimonis
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire.
authors.forename: Luna C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority.
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Aucoin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Gregory M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fassnacht
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kunimatsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology.
authors.forename: Katherine S L
authors.initials: KSL
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010379:Peer Group; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult