Validation of the digital violence questionnaire (DVQ) in romantic relationships

The present article examines digital violence born out of new forms of online communication in romantic relationships. A theoretical review identified the lack of an instrument to measure this type of digital violence, understood as violence exercised through electronic devices commonly used within romantic relationships in the form of control, harassment, abuse and coercion. The aim of the present research was to develop and validate the digital violence questionnaire (DVQ). For this purpose, an expert panel, fieldwork and exploratory factor analysis were used. Two-stage random cluster sampling was carried out at the University of Huelva (Spain) with a sample of 528 students. Following pilot testing and expert panel analysis, an instrument composed of 90 items was developed. This was divided into five blocks of analysis and included additional sociodemographic variables and relational variables pertaining to courtship. Likert scales were used to collect responses with some items being bidirectional in nature. This enabled measurement of perpetration and victimization in relation to this type of violence. Reliability of the questionnaire was supported with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.945. Following exploratory factor analysis, principal component analysis and varimax rotation, a 7-factor solution and a total of 55 items was obtained. It is concluded that the digital violence questionnaire (DVQ) is a valid and reliable instrument that is suitable for the detection and prevention of digital violence.