Measuring Aggression in German Youth Prison—A Validation of the German Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ) in a Sample of Incarcerated Juvenile Offenders
Author | Evelyn Heynen,Peer Van der Helm,Geert Jan Stams,Jesse Roest |
DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X211023923 |
Published date | 01 October 2022 |
Date | 01 October 2022 |
Subject Matter | Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X211023923
International Journal of
Offender Therapy and
Comparative Criminology
2022, Vol. 66(13-14) 1475 –1486
© The Author(s) 2021
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DOI: 10.1177/0306624X211023923
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Article
Measuring Aggression in
German Youth Prison—A
Validation of the German
Reactive-Proactive Aggression
Questionnaire (RPQ) in
a Sample of Incarcerated
Juvenile Offenders
Evelyn Heynen1, Peer Van der Helm2,3,
Geert Jan Stams3, and Jesse Roest2
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine construct validity and reliability of the
German reactive proactive aggression questionnaire (RPQ) in a sample of delinquent
boys (N = 156). A confirmatory factor analysis with a two-factor model of reactive
and proactive aggression showed a good fit to the data. The factor structure of the
original RPQ could be fully replicated in the German translation, and Cronbach’s alphas
were good for both subscales. Concurrent validity of the RPQ was demonstrated by
significant correlations with the subscales of the inventory of callous unemotional
traits. In future studies, the German RPQ can be used to assess reactive and proactive
aggression in judicial and forensic psychiatric care in Germany. The present findings
also provide support for the use of the RPQ in cross-cultural comparisons.
Keywords
reactive aggression, proactive aggression, German, youth detention
1Open Universiteit, Heerlen, The Netherlands
2Hogeschool Leiden, South Holland, The Netherlands
3Universiteit van Amsterdam, Holland, The Netherlands
Corresponding Author:
Evelyn Heynen, Open Universiteit, Valkenburgerweg 177, Heerlen 6401 DL, The Netherlands.
Email: evelyn.heynen@ou.nl
1023923IJOXXX10.1177/0306624X211023923International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologyHeynen et al.
research-article2021
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