Development of an Aggression Scale for Adolescents: Based on Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop a scale for measuring aggression in adolescents, based on Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). METHODS: The participants were 38 adolescents in an in-depth study conducted to develop items for indirect measurement, 13 adolescents in a pre-test, and 289 adolescents in the present survey. The collected data were analyzed using content validity, the correlation coefficient, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability, and the Cronbach's α. RESULTS: In this study, the most important variable related to aggression was found to be aggression intention. This study included 4 factors of direct measurement and 6 factors of indirect measurement; therefore, 41 questions were developed. Increased levels of aggression were associated with higher scores for attitudes of aggression, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and aggression intention. CONCLUSION: We found that the questionnaire used in this study was valid and reliable as a measurement scale to explain aggression in adolescents based on TPB. Aggression intention should be included in aggression prevention programs because it was linked to aggressive behavior.