Peer victimization among Chinese adolescents: A longitudinal validation study.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Peer victimization is a significant global issue affecting children and adolescents.
• Understanding the nuances of peer victimization within diverse cultural contexts, such as China, is crucial for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the factor structure of peer victimization among Chinese adolescent students.
• To assess the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale (MPVS) in a Chinese sample.
• To evaluate the factorial invariance of the MPVS across gender, urban/rural settings, and time.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 2,764 Chinese adolescents from six secondary schools in Fujian Province.
• The Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale (MPVS) was used to measure peer victimization.
• Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to test different models, including a hypothesized four-factor structure and a hierarchical model.

Main Results:

• The four-factor model demonstrated the best fit for the data, indicating a robust structure for peer victimization.
• The MPVS showed factorial invariance across genders, urban versus rural areas, and across two time points.
• The scale exhibited good internal consistency reliability and nomological network validity concerning depression and anxiety symptoms.

Conclusions:

• The Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale is a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing peer victimization in Chinese adolescents.
• The findings support the use of the MPVS for research and practice concerning peer victimization in Chinese school settings.
• Further research directions for understanding peer victimization among Chinese adolescents were discussed.