Multidimensionality of Social Competence: Measurement of the Construct and its Relationship With Bullying Roles

Abstract

The aims of this paper were two-fold: to validate the AMSC-Q (Adolescent Multidimensional Social Competence Questionnaire) and to examine the social competence of those involved in bullying. The representative sample was composed of 4047 Andalusian secondary school students (48.2% girls). Two measures were used: the AMSC-Q and the EBIPQ (European Bullying Intervention Project Questionnaire). The AMSC-Q measure yielding a 5-factor structure (prosocial behaviour, social adjustment, normative adjustment, cognitive reappraisal and social efficacy) and revealed adequate reliability and validity. Victims presented greater prosocial behaviour and normative adjustment but low social adjustment and social efficacy. Bullies and bully victims demonstrated worse normative adjustment and less developed cognitive reappraisal but similar social adjustment and social efficacy. The social competence characteristics of those involved and non-involved in bullying are discussed.