NCJ Number
239787
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 26 Issue: 8 Dated: May 2011 Pages: 1524-1540
Date Published
May 2011
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The objective of this study was to develop a psychometric measure of risk for sexual victimization from adolescent peers.
Abstract
Items were generated on the basis of the literature and on consultations with a multidisciplinary group of key informants. The items were administered to a sample of 327 female Grade-9 students and examined using exploratory factor analysis. The Adolescent Sexual Coercion Risk Scale items formed two lower-order factors composed of items regarding signaling sexual boundaries and displaying risk behaviors, respectively. Subsequent confirmatory factor analysis supported the two factors, and preliminary psychometric analyses demonstrated that the factors have satisfactory internal consistency. In addition, low scores on the ability to signal sexual boundaries and high scores on risk behaviors were associated with self-reported peer sexual victimization, supporting the validity of the factors as measures of risk. Future validation and potential usage of the measure are discussed. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.