Validation of the dating violence questionnaire (DVQ-R) for young Colombian and Mexican adult victims

The dating violence is a problem of public health actuality, with consequences in the physical health and psychology the young, thus, it is important have instrument what allow rigours evaluation this problem. The present study aimed to evaluate the construct validity and reliability of the dating violence questionnaire (DVQ-R) in a sample of young Colombian and Mexican adults. This study was psychometric, the research included 4,237 Mexican and Colombian adolescents and young adults aged between 14 and 28 years (M=19,44 years; DS=2,6 years). The reliability was calculated whit coefficient Cronbach alpha, it got a total internal consistency of a= 0,827; When estimating construct validity via exploratory factor analysis, the 20 items were grouped according to five theoretically conceived factors which measured victimization behavior pertaining to physical violence, humiliation, sexual victimization, detachment and coercion, and explained 55,1% of variance. In the confirmatory factor analysis for general model of five factor, the fit indexs were adequate (CFI = 0937, NFI = 0931, IFI= ,937, RMSEA= .049). Moreover, additional models developed specifically for Colombian and Mexican populations are proposed. Outcomes indicate that DVQ-R is an appropriate tool for assessing victimization in dating relationships.