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Original Article

Investigating Construct Validity of the Cyber-Peer Experiences Questionnaire

Published Online:March 28, 2018https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000457

Abstract

Abstract. Cyberaggression and cybervictimization have gained momentum as a research focus given associated mental health sequelae. To date, however, there remains little consensus on the conceptualization and measurement of these constructs. The purpose of this study was to explore construct validity evidence for the Cyber-Peer Experiences Questionnaire (C-PEQ), a novel measure that assesses experiences of cyberaggression and cybervictimization. Undergraduate participants (n = 735) completed an online survey including the C-PEQ and other theoretically related instruments. Confirmatory factor analysis did not provide support for the hypothesized two-factor model [MLM χ2(125) = 293.58, RMSEA = .06, CFI = .87, SRMR = .06]. The C-PEQ displayed evidence for internal consistency reliability. Evidence for convergent validity with theoretically similar constructs was mixed. Specific areas of model misspecification included items 1 and 2 on both subscales (altering social media friend lists). Future research may explore additional construct validity evidence of the C-PEQ in novel samples with these items removed.

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