The Peer Aggressive and Reactive Behaviors Questionnaire (PARB-Q): evidence of validity in the Brazilian context

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Peer Aggressive and Reactive Behaviors Questionnaire (PARB-Q), a self-report instrument comprising two independent scales that assess aggressive behavior and reactions to peer aggression. Method: A total of 727 elementary schoolchildren aged 8-13 years (52% boys) were included. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to evaluate the factor structure. Results: The Brazilian version of the PARB-Q was consistent with the original version. The results of the exploratory factor analyses (EFA) indicated a one-factor solution for the first scale (Peer Aggression Scale) and a three-factor solution (Reactive Aggression, Seeking Teacher Support, and Internalizing Reaction) for the Reaction to Peer Aggression Scale. The confirmatory analyses for both scales yielded good fit indices. Conclusion: The results of the statistical analyses suggested adequate psychometric properties and satisfactory validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the PARB-Q, making it a useful tool for assessing aggressive behavior as well as children's reactions to aggression by their peers.