Development and Validation of the Forms of Peer Victimization Scale

Abstract

Abstract:Childhood peer victimization is prevalent and harmful; thus, it is critical to carefully assess this construct. We extended an existing measure to create the Forms of Peer Victimization Scale (FPVS), which assesses multiple forms of peer victimization via self and teacher report. Participants included 1,440 fourth-and fifth-grade children (50% girls; M age = 10.1 years) and their teachers. They completed the FPVS in the fall and spring of one school year, as well as additional measures of peer victimization and psychosocial functioning. Results supported identical four-factor models for the self-and teacher-report scales. The four factors, aggregated as subscales (physical victimization, verbal victimization, social victimization, and property attacks), demonstrated internal consistency, temporal stability, and concurrent and convergent validity. The FPVS evidenced promising psychometric properties and stands out from other measures by assessing peer victimization (not bullying), including experiences of social rebuff, demonstrating temporal stability, and offering self-and teacher-report scales.