Psychometric Properties of a Scale of Online Prosocial Behaviors Toward Peers in Adolescents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24265/Keywords:
adolescents , online prosocial behavior, measure, validityAbstract
Background: Online prosociality among adolescents has become a focus of socioemotional development research. However, psychometrically robust instruments for its assessment remain scarce, particularly in Mexican populations. Objectives: To examine the psychometric properties of a scale designed to measure online prosocial behaviors toward peers in Mexican adolescents, as well as to evaluate its measurement invariance across sex and stage of adolescence (middle vs. late). Method: Participants were 411 students from urban public high schools in a city in northwestern Mexico (M age = 16.2 years, SD = 0.83), of whom 197 were male, and 214 were female. Participants completed several self-report questionnaires. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit of the unidimensional model to the data. In addition, evidence of convergent and concurrent validity was obtained, along with adequate reliability indices. Finally, the instrument's measurement invariance was confirmed across sex and adolescent stage. Conclusions: The scale demonstrates adequate psychometric properties and constitutes a valid and reliable tool for assessing online prosocial behaviors in Mexican adolescents.
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