Measuring 8 to 12 year old children’s self-report of power imbalance in relation to bullying: development of the Scale of Perceived Power Imbalance

Background While power imbalance is now recognized as a key component of bullying, reliable and valid measurement instruments have yet to be developed. This research aimed to develop a self-report instrument that measures power imbalance as perceived by the victim of frequent aggressive behavior. Methods A mixed methods approach was used (468 participants, Grade 4 to 6). This paper describes the exploratory ( n = 111) and confirmatory factor analysis of the new instrument ( n = 337), and assessment of reliablity and construct validity. Results A 2-factor model represented physical and social aspects of power imbalance ( n = 127: normed chi-square = 1.2, RMSEA = .04, CF1 = .993). The social factor included constructs of group and peer valued characteristics. Conclusions This research will enhance health and education professionals understanding of power imbalance in bullying and will inform the design and evaluation of interventions to address bullying in children.