The factorial validity and reliability of three versions of the Aggression Questionnaire using Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling

The Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) measures aggression in four domains: Anger, Hostility, Physical Aggression and Verbal Aggression. Moreover, a number of shorter versions of the AQ have emerged. The present study used a large sample of adolescents to test three versions of the AQ. In each case we examined a unidimensional model, a hierarchical model, and a four-factor model. Results of Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed limited support for a unidimensional model in any of the AQ forms, with results supporting the widely used four-factor model, and to a lesser extent, the hierarchical model. Fit indices for both short-forms of the AQ using Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling were very good. However, results also revealed only partial gender invariance for both scales.