The Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory: Measurement Invariance and Psychometric Properties among Portuguese Youths

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol

Marôco

Ray

et al. 2017

Self Cite

Research on narcissism has a long tradition, but there is limited knowledge regarding its application among female youth, especially for forensic samples of incarcerated female youth. Drawing on 377 female adolescents (103 selected from forensic settings and 274 selected from school settings) from Portugal, the current study is the first to examine simultaneously the psychometric properties of a brief version of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI-13) among females drawn from incarcerated and community settings. The results support the three-factor structure model of narcissism after the removal of one item due to its low factor loading. Internal consistency, convergent validity, and discriminant validity showed promising results. In terms of criterion-related validity, significant associations were found with criterion-related variables such as age of criminal onset, conduct disorder, crime severity, violent crimes, and alcohol and drug use. The findings provide support for use of the NPI-13 among female juveniles.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Brief Measure of Narcissism Among Female Juvenile Delinquents and Community Youths: The Narcissistic Personality Inventory–13

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol

Marôco

Ray

et al. 2017

Self Cite

“…Higher scores indicate an increased presence of the characteristics associated. The Portuguese validation of the YPI-S was used (Pechorro et al 2015b;Pechorro et al 2016e;Pechorro et al 2017d). Internal consistency reliability statistics for the YPI-S will be given later in this paper.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female Psychopathic Traits in Forensic and School Context: Comparing the Antisocial Process Screening Device Self-Report and the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory-Short

J Psychopathol Behav Assess

Gonçalves

Andershed

et al. 2017

Self Cite

The association between psychopathic traits and antisociality among females is an important and understudied area of research. Drawing on 377 female adolescents (103 selected from forensic settings and 274 selected from school settings) from Portugal, the current study examined the psychometric properties of the Antisocial Process Screening Device Self-Report (APSD-SR) and Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory-Short version (YPI-S) in female youth populations. When comparing these two measures the YPI-S revealed clearer results in terms of its three-factor structure and internal consistency, and stronger convergent validity coefficients. The APSD-SR revealed problems in terms of its factor structure and internal consistency of its Callous-Unemotional (CU) and Impulsivity dimensions. Convergent validity was demonstrated among these measures and with measures of other facets of the psychopathy construct (CU traits, narcissism) and related constructs (reactive and proactive aggression), and discriminant validity was found with a measure of basic empathy. Expected significant associations were found in terms of criterion-related validity with several indicators of delinquent careers including age of criminal onset, Conduct Disorder (CD), crime seriousness, violent crimes, alcohol use, and drug use. Keywords Psychopathic personality. Psychopathy measures. Female adolescents. Delinquency. Delinquent career Psychopathy, defined as a personality disorder that represents a suite of affective, interpersonal, and behavioral traits that create significant impairments in social functioning and impose high costs to society in terms of crime and criminal justice system expenditures. The prevalence of psychopathy among forensic and justice system-involved individuals is several times higher than the general population. Although the association between psychopathy and assorted antisocial conditions and behaviors is unequivocal (da Silva et al. 2012; DeLisi 2009; Hare 1993, 1996; Pechorro et al. 2016b), the strength and consistency of that relationship largely pertains to data derived from male, adult criminal offenders. The association between various psychopathy features and female antisociality, defined as the liability for involvement in conduct problems and antisocial behavior is more heterogeneous and the literature is replete with competing and at times contradictory findings (Nicholls and Petrila 2005; Vitale and Newman 2001). Certainly, studies have shown gender consensus in the linkages between psychopathy and a multitude of behavioral outcomes including: self-reported and teacher-rated aggression (Marsee et al. 2005), emotional processing (Kimonis et al. 2006), negative health outcomes (Beaver et al. 2014), and both self-reported physical and relational aggression (Penney and Moretti 2007). Together, these studies suggest that the

“…Higher scores indicate higher levels of psychopathic traits. The Portuguese version of the YPI was used to analyze the convergent validity with the ICU because research has supported a stable three-factor structure in samples of female youths (Pechorro, Andershed, Ray, Maroco, & Gonçalves, 2015;Pechorro, Ribeiro da Silva, Rijo, Gonçalves & Andershed, 2016;Pechorro, Ribeiro da Silva, Rijo, Gonçalves, & Andershed, in press). The internal consistency for the current study, estimated by Cronbach's alpha, was: YPI total = .94; YPI G-M dimension = .93; YPI C-U dimension = .78; and YPI I-I dimension = .87.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits: Psychometric properties among referred and non-referred Portuguese female juveniles

International Journal of Law and Psychiatry

Ray

Gonçalves

et al. 2017

Self Cite

The presence of callous-unemotional (CU) traits delineates a subgroup of male youth with severe conduct disorder and antisocial behavior, but little research has been done among female youth. Drawing on 377 female adolescents (103 selected from forensic settings and 274 selected from school settings) from Portugal, the current study is the first to simultaneously examine the psychometric properties of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) in incarcerated female youth and community youth. The results support the use of the ICU in terms of its factor structure, and internal consistency despite the fact an item had to be removed from the Callousness dimension. Statistically significant positive associations were found with measures of psychopathic traits and aggression, as well as non-significant associations with empathy and social anxiety. Significant associations were also found with several indicators of delinquent careers including age of criminal onset, age of first contact with the law, Conduct Disorder symptoms and diagnosis, crime seriousness, previous violent offending, number of criminal charges, alcohol use, and drug use. Findings are discussed in terms of the use of the ICU among female juvenile offenders and community youths.