Análise Fatorial da Ferramenta de Triagem de Violência Familiar (FAST)

Abstract

Introduction: Family Aggression Screening Tool is an instrument to identify maltreatment experiences using pictorial representations, including methods of Victimization and Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence. The initial psychometric properties of Family Aggression Screening Tool were reported in a single and original research in the United Kingdom. Objective: To analyze results obtained from the sociodemographic profile regarding to age, race and gender from Family Aggression Screening Tool data collection and compare them with the methods of Victimization and Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence that were experienced in family context. To add to current knowledge evidence of validity based on the internal structure of Family Aggression Screening Tool. Participants: Data consisted of 648 young people aged 11 to 17 years from public schools in the city of Salvador, Bahia. Method: Initially, it was applied the Student's t test to compare groups with different sociodemographic characteristics and the methods of aggression that were experienced in the groups. Afterwards Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Exploratory Graphic Analysis approaches were applied to provide evidence of validity. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was used to provide evidence of concurrent validity. Results: Female gender was statistically more significant as a victim of Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and adolescents between 15 and 17 years old showed an overlapping occurrence of methods of aggression compared to pre-adolescents between 11 and 14 years old. There was no statistically significant difference in race group. Confirmatory Factor Analysis resulted in a theoretical solution including second and first-order factors, similar to instrument's original structure. Reliability of Family Aggression Screening Tool was assessed both by internal consistency and by test-retest, which showed favorable coefficients. Concurrent validity was supported by strong correlations between emotional and physical victimization subscales and emotional and physical abuse subscales of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Conclusion: Data that was obtained contributed to a better understanding of the pattern of violence in the groups. Initiatives are needed to provide parents and/or caregivers, children and adolescents with knowledge about the different forms that violence can take in family context. Our results suggest that Family Aggression Screening Tool has good psychometric properties for validity based on internal structure as an identification instrument for maltreatment in family context.