Is Peer Aggression Different from Dating Aggression during Middle School?

• In Event: Conceptualizing and Measuring Abuse in Adolescent Dating Relationships

Abstract

Definitions of adolescent dating aggression (ADA) have emerged from adult intimate partner violence frameworks. This extension may be problematic for the youngest daters where ADA may appear similar to peer aggression. Developmental differences and the potential overlap of peer- and dating-aggression in early adolescence suggest the need to evaluate ADA measures for early adolescents.
Study 1 evaluated the structure of early ADA measured through a modified version of the Safe Dates dating aggression and victimization scale within a high-risk sample of 2827 dating sixth grade students from four U.S. communities. Study 2 replicated Study 1 findings in a sample of 938 urban early adolescents from a city in the Southeastern United States. Study 2 further examined the discriminant validity of ADA compared to a measure of peer aggression and victimization.
The structure of ADA for early adolescents resembled that borrowed from the adult literature. A four-factor model (physical perpetration, physical victimization, psychological perpetration, psychological victimization) best fit the data in both Study 1 (CFI=0.943, TLI=0.933, RMSEA=0.031) and Study 2 (CFI=0.939, TLI=0.925, RMSEA=0.032). Measurement invariance by gender, time, grade and season was established. Discriminant validity analyses also indicated distinct constructs for peer aggression and ADA perpetration and victimization.

Authors

• Elizabeth Goncy, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Katherine Taylor, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Albert Farrell, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Terri Sullivan, Virginia Commonwealth University