Hungarian Adaptation of the Cyber Victim and Bullying Scale (CVBS-HU) and the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (ECIPQ)

Abstract

Background and aims: Cyberbullying is progressively becoming more frequent in the everyday life of adolescents in Hungary. Hence, there is a growing need to study cyberbullying, as well as an adequate questionnaire to assess it. The aim of this study is the following: To validate the Hungarian version of the Cyber Victim and Bullying Scale (CVBS) and European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (ECIPQ), and to determine their factor structure, reliability and construct validity. Method: The sample used in the factor analysis of CVBS consisted of 632 adolescents (mean age=16, 47, SD=1,50). Another sample of 120 people was used for testing the validity (mean age=17,51, SD=0,72). Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Anger Expression Scale and a questionnaire about school climate had been used for examining the validity of CVBS. The sample used in the factor analysis of ECIPQ consisted of 1425 high school students (mean age=15,29, SD=1,69). The sample used for the validity tests consisted of 385 adolescents (mean age=15,78, SD=1,02). To test the validity of ECIPQ, we used Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale and Child Behaviour Checklist. Results: Both scales of CVBS revealed an acceptable, but questionable fit on the Hungarian sample.
Also, both scales of ECIPQ show an adequate fit on the Hungarian sample. Further, both questionnaires’ reliability estimates are excellent and the results of the validity tests are in line with the outcomes of previous studies. Discussion: The questionnaires create an opportunity to examine cyberbullying in Hungary, although they must be used with caution based on the psychometric properties and underlying cyberbullying concepts.