Latent Classes of Aggression and Peer Victimization: Measurement Invariance and Differential Item Functioning Across Sex, Race-ethnicity, Cohort, and Study Site

Overview

Journal Child Dev

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2021 Oct 22

PMID 34676893

Citations 3

Authors

Amie F Bettencourt

Rashelle J Musci

Katherine E Masyn

Albert D Farrell

Affiliations

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Abstract

Peer victimization is common and linked to maladjustment. Prior research has typically identified four peer victimization subgroups: aggressors, victims, aggressive-victims, and uninvolved. However, findings related to sex and racial-ethnic differences in subgroup membership have been mixed. Using data collected in September of 2002 and 2003, this study conducted confirmatory latent class analysis of a racially-ethnically diverse sample of 5415 sixth graders (49% boys; 50.6% Black; 20.9% Hispanic) representing two cohorts from 37 schools in four U.S. communities to replicate the four subgroups and evaluate measurement invariance of latent class indicators across cohort, sex, race-ethnicity, and study site. Results replicated the four-class solution and illustrated that sociodemographic differences in subgroup membership were less evident after accounting for differential item functioning.

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Long-term consequences of bullying involvement in first grade.

Bettencourt A, Clary L, Ialongo N, Musci R J Sch Psychol. 2023; 97:63-76.

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Latent classes of aggression and peer victimization: Measurement invariance and differential item functioning across sex, race-ethnicity, cohort, and study site.

Bettencourt A, Musci R, Masyn K, Farrell A Child Dev. 2021; 93(2):e117-e134.

PMID: 34676893 PMC: 9297936. DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13691.

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