Antisocial Behaviour: A Unidimensional or Multidimensional Construct?

This study aimed at evaluating the internal consistency of the Antisocial Behavior Questionnaire and analyze its factor structure. Specifically, it sought to evaluate the suitability of one-factor and multifactorial models, and to verify the extent to which scores of antisocial behavior vary accordi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Walberto Silva dos Santos, Leonardo Carneiro Holanda, Glysa de Oliveira Meneses, Mª. Angeles Luengo, Jose Antonio Gomez-Fraguela
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad del Rosario 2019-01-01
Series:Avances en Psicología Latinoamericana
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistas.urosario.edu.co/index.php/apl/article/view/5105
Description
Summary:This study aimed at evaluating the internal consistency of the Antisocial Behavior Questionnaire and analyze its factor structure. Specifically, it sought to evaluate the suitability of one-factor and multifactorial models, and to verify the extent to which scores of antisocial behavior vary according to gender. We counted with two different samples of school adolescents. They answered, among other measures, the Antisocial Behavior Questionnaire and demographic questions. The results indicated that the multidimensional model composed of five independent factors was more suitable than the one-factor model as well as the model with five factors of first order and a higher order factor. The male participants had higher scores on aggression, theft, conduct against the rules and vandalism. No significant differences were found for problems with drug abuse. We conclude, therefore, that the antisocial behavior is adequately represented by a multidimensional structure comprising acts of different types and gravities, and that these are more likely in males than females. Keywords: Antisocial behavior, dimensionality, factorial structure, gender differences.
ISSN:1794-4724
2145-4515