Cross-cultural Gender Differences and Developmental Trends of Aggression-Victim-Bystander Constructs: Brazil, Jamaica, and United States

Abstract

We evaluated the measurement equivalence of the Peer Experiences Questionnaire (PEQ) across samples from Brazil, Jamaica, and the United States and compared latent means of aggressive and bystander behaviors, victimization experiences, and aggression-related attitudes for boys and girls in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade from Brazil, Jamaica, and the United States. Results indicated developmental and gender differences and similarities in the aggression-victim-bystander constructs across countries. Jamaican participants reported significantly more frequent aggression toward others and victimization of self, with girls reporting equal amounts of aggression towards others as boys. Participants from Brazil and Jamaica reported more aggressive bystander behaviors than participants from the United States. Normative beliefs supporting the use of aggression were endorsed more frequently by U.S. participants than participants from Brazil and Jamaica. Discussion of the presentation of aggression-victim-bystander constructs across cultures is presented.