Validation of the Cybervictimization Questionnaire (CYVIC) for adolescents

The Cybervictimization Questionnaire (CYVIC) for adolescents was designed to assess the extent to which the informant is a victim of aggression by mobile phone or Internet. The goal of this study is to analyze its factor and criterion validity and reliability in a sample of adolescents of Asturias (Spain). For this purpose, the CYVIC was applied to 3159 young people, aged 12 to 18, along with three scales to measure Internet Risk Behaviors, Offline School Victimization, and Self-esteem. Regarding factor validity, the model that best represents the internal structure of the CYVIC has four factors (Impersonation, Visual-Sexual Cybervictimization, Written-Verbal Cybervictimization, and Online Exclusion) and four additional indicators of Visual Cybervictimization-Teasing/Happy slapping. Regarding criterion validity, the CYVIC scores correlate positively with Internet Risk Behaviors and Offline School Victimization, and negatively with Self-esteem, three variables that previous empirical evidence indicates correlate with cybervictimization. The reliability of the CYVIC factors and items are both adequate. Therefore, it is concluded that the CYVIC is a valid and reliable self-report measure of cybervictimization in adolescents.