Portuguese validation of the brief peer conflict scale: validity, reliability and invariance across gender

Abstract

Aggression is a multidimensional construct comprised of different forms and functions, the assessment of which has important implications for understanding externalizing problems in male and female youth. The main aim of the present study is to examine the psychometric properties of a form and function aggression measure, the Brief Peer Conflict Scale 20 (PCS-20) among a community sample of youth (N = 470,M = 15.89 years,SD = 1.00 years) from Portugal, divided into females (n = 213) and males (n = 257). The original four-factor latent structure of the PCS-20 obtained an adequate fit using confirmatory factor analysis, and strong cross gender invariance was demonstrated. The PCS-20 also demonstrated adequate reliability (measured by the Omega and Alpha coefficients), convergent and discriminant validities, criterion validity, and known-groups validity. Our findings support the use of the PCS-20 among Portuguese juveniles as a short measure of the forms and functions of aggression.