title: An Examination of the Partner Cyber Abuse Questionnaire in a College Student Sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the factor structure and convergent validity of a newly developed measure of an understudied form of partner abuse, cyber abuse, and to examine the prevalence of, and gender differences in, victimization by cyber abuse.
  
  
  METHODS
  College students in a dating relationship (N= 502) completed the Partner Cyber Abuse Questionnaire (Hamby, 2013), as well as measures of partner abuse victimization and depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using exploratory factor analysis, we determined a one-factor solution was the most statistically and conceptually best fitting model. The cyber abuse victimization factor was correlated with depressive symptoms and physical, psychological, and sexual partner abuse victimization, supporting the convergent validity of the measure. The overall prevalence of victimization by cyber abuse was 40%, with victimization by specific acts ranging from 2-31%. Men and women did not differ in their victimization by cyber abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cyber abuse is prevalent among college students and occurs concurrently with other partner abuse forms and depressive symptoms. Given the interrelated nature of partner abuse forms, prevention and intervention programs should address partner abuse occurring in-person and through technology. Cyber abuse should also be considered in the conceptualization and measurement of partner abuse to more fully understand this social problem.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolford-Clevenger
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zapor
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
authors.forename: Hope
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brasfield
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
authors.forename: Jeniimarie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Febres
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
authors.forename: JoAnna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elmquist
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
authors.forename: Meagan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brem
authors.affiliation: Ohio University.
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Shorey
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Stuart
keywords: college students; cyber abuse; domestic violence; electronic aggression; gender differences; partner abuse; prevalence; validity