Cyberbullying Perpetration and Victimization Scales: Psychometric Properties of the Iranian Version in University Samples

Cyberbullying has emerged as one of the most prevalent forms of violence in recent years. Despite various conceptual frameworks, there remains no consensus on the precise nature of cyberbullying, making its measurement challenging. Additionally, most cyberbullying instruments have been designed for school students, with few addressing early adulthood. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the cyberbullying perpetration and victimization (CBP and CBV) scales across three independent samples of Iranian students. The first study focused on examining the content validity and internal consistency of the CBP and CBV scales with a group of 55 professionals and students (20 professionals and 35 students). The second study aimed to evaluate the exploratory factor validity and reliability of these scales, involving 276 undergraduate students from a public university in Birjand, Iran selected through convenience sampling. The third study assessed the factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis and examined composite reliability, convergent validity, criterion validity, and predictive validity. For this purpose, 580 students from four universities in Iran were selected through convenience sampling to complete the research instruments. The results confirmed the content validity and internal consistency of the scales in the first study. Exploratory factor analysis in the second study revealed three factors, explaining 77.65% of the variance for the CBP scale and 74.33% for the CBV scale. In the final study, confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor structure of both scales. Additionally, Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the CBP subscales ranged from 0.83 to 0.91, while those for the CBV subscales ranged from 0.92 to 0.96. The positive and significant correlations of the CBP and CBV scales with Olweus' bullying/victimization and psychological distress, and the negative and significant correlations with subjective vitality and life satisfaction, affirmed the convergent and divergent validity of these instruments. The Mann-Whitney Test revealed significant gender differences in the verbal/written dimension and the total score of CBP, as well as the verbal/written and social exclusion components of the CBV scale. Overall, the findings demonstrated that the CBP and CBV scales possess good validity and reliability, making them suitable for use among Iranian young adults.