The factor structure and construct validity of the parent-reported Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits among school-aged children and adolescents

Abstract

In this study, we assessed the factor structure and construct validity of the parent-reported Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) among school-aged children and adolescents, aged 6 to 15 years, in a community setting in Japan (n = 10,936). We investigated 15 models that have been reported in previous studies and used confirmatory factor analyses to determine a model that might actually be the best-fit among these. We then examined the correlations between the score of ICU and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in the best fit model and the three-factor bifactor (3FBF) model with the original ICU through cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis to determine the concurrent and predictive validity of the ICU. The results showed that the best-fit model was the two-factor bifactor (2FBF) model with a revised version of the ICU with 12 items, excluding all but one item of unemotional factors. The cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis showed that higher general callous-unemotional factor scores, callousness and uncaring specific factor scores were significantly associated with a higher level of conduct problems and a lower level of prosocial behaviors in the SDQ. These tendencies were shown both in the 2FBF model with the revised version of the ICU and the 3FBF model with the original ICU. We conclude that the 2FBF model was useful for school-aged community samples, as it predicts increases in conduct problems and decreases in prosocial behavior with fewer items than the 3FBF model.

Callous-Unemotional Traits Among Children and Adolescents in Asian Cultures: A Systematic Review

“…Nine samples reported that CU traits were significantly associated with indices of conduct problems ( d = 0.15–1.90), including delinquency (Fung et al, 2009; Li & Ang, 2019) and total aggression (Fung et al, 2009; Raine et al, 2014). This included two longitudinal studies that found that CU traits predicted later antisocial behavior (Hwang et al, 2020; Yoshida et al, 2019). Six studies, however, reported mixed or non-significant associations between CU traits and conduct problems.…”

“…On one hand, Chu et al (2014) found no association between deviant peer affiliation and child CU traits. On the other hand, CU traits were found to be associated with peer problems (Yoshida et al, 2019). Additionally, callousness was associated with being a victim of physical bullying and a perpetrator of verbal/relational/physical bullying (Wang et al, 2019a).…”

Callous-Unemotional Traits Do Not Predict Functional Family Therapy Outcomes for Adolescents With Behavior Problems

“…The ICU12 constitutes two intercorrelated factors, a 7-item Callousness factor where all items are standard-scored, e.g., “Shows no remorse when he/she has done something wrong,” and a 5-item Uncaring factor, where all items are reverse-scored, e.g., “Tries not to hurt others’ feelings.” Each item is rated on a 4-point scale, ranging from 0 (Not at all true) to 3 (Definitely true), and factor and total scores are the sum of the item responses. The ICU12 was developed using Item Response Theory analyses and research supports its use as a valid and brief measure of CU traits in both self- and parent-report versions ( Hawes et al, 2014 ; Colins et al, 2015 ; Pechorro et al, 2017 ; Yoshida et al, 2019 ; Thøgersen et al, 2020 ). Reliability was good for the total scale (α = 0.91), and acceptable for the Callousness (α = 0.88) and Uncaring (α = 0.81) subscales.…”

Factorial Structure of the Parent-Reported Version of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits Among Belgian Children: A Theory-Based Model

“…Finally, this factorial structure has little support for the other-reported versions and in middle childhood ( Roose et al, 2010 ; Waller et al, 2015 ). Currently, a model with two correlated factors (Callous and Uncaring) is the most supported structure in the literature, with the number of items varying between authors ( Houghton et al, 2013 ; Hawes et al, 2014 ; Willoughby et al, 2015 ; Gao and Zhang, 2016 ; Yoshida et al, 2019 ). In particular, the ICU-12 by Hawes et al (2014) with 12 items and the ICU-11 ( Colins et al, 2016 ), which omits the only remaining item from the Unemotional factor from the ICU-12, are supported in various age periods such as in adults ( Wang et al, 2017 ), adolescents ( Zhang et al, 2019 ; Thøgersen et al, 2020 ; Allen et al, 2021 ), middle-aged children ( Hawes et al, 2014 ; Waller et al, 2015 ; Wang et al, 2020 ), in various cultures and with the self-reported or the other-reported versions.…”

“…For example, item “Does not care who he or she hurts” and “Tries not to hurt others’ feelings” loaded on the Callous and the Uncaring subfactors, respectively ( Hawes et al, 2014 ). Therefore, the factorial structures which are supported the most by the current literature are not based on a clear theoretical background ( Ray et al, 2016a ; Yoshida et al, 2019 ) but are guided by statistical analyses. This constitutes an important limitation for the application of these structures in clinical settings, as the factors do not make sense at a theoretical level.…”