Validation and measurement invariance of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits in Chinese incarcerated and normative samples.

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) in a large sample of incarcerated Chinese male inmates and its measurement invariance with an independent normative sample of Chinese adults. We further investigated the external validity of the ICU in the incarcerated sample. Hypotheses: We hypothesized that the short forms of ICU would (a) provide a better model fit and greater internal consistency than the original 24-item ICU, (b) demonstrate measurement invariance between incarcerated and normative samples, and (c) show satisfactory external validity with a variety of external criterion measures. Method: A sample of incarcerated Chinese men (N = 498; M age = 33.14) and a normative sample of Chinese adults (N = 168; M age = 23.45, 41% male) self-reported on the ICU. The incarcerated sample also self-reported multiple psychosocial external measures. Results: A short form of the ICU containing 11 items with two correlated factors (Callousness and Uncaring) demonstrated superior model fit, internal consistency, scalar invariance across the two samples, and external validity. Conclusions: Rigorously and accurately measuring callousunemotional (CU) traits in Asian populations will enable future research to further understand how these traits develop over the life span, as well as their clinical and forensic implications. Public Significance StatementA short form of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits can be used to accurately and conveniently assess and compare callous-unemotional (CU) traits and two factors-Callousness and Uncaring-in Chinese incarcerated and normative adult populations. Rigorously and accurately measuring CU traits in Asian populations will enable future research to further understand their development over the life span in both typical and high-risk populations, as well as their clinical (e.g., conduct disorder diagnosis) and forensic (e.g., recidivism risk assessment) implications in different cultures.

Callous-Unemotional Traits in Adolescents' Daily Life: Associations with Affect and Emotional and Conduct Problems

“…For the first aim, all 12-items were used. However, in line with several studies that have found that item 3 ( does not show emotions ), the only item left from the original unemotional subscale, exhibits low factor loading (Colins et al, 2016 ; Zheng et al, 2021 ), this item was not included in calculations of subscales for the second aim.…”

“…This is a notable finding because this item is the only item retained from the 24-item ICU to the brief 12-item version presumably loading onto the unemotional subscale. Although this 12-item adaptation has been well-validated in child, adolescent, and young adult samples (e.g., Hawes et al, 2014b ; Zheng et al, 2021 ), others have emphasized the importance of unemotional items for understanding the broader CU construct (Ray & Frick, 2020 ). For example, one meta-analytic study found that although the unemotional subscale was only modestly associated with aggression ( r = 0.06), it was more highly associated with lower empathy ( r = -0.22; Cardinale & Marsh, 2020 ).…”

“…Daily callous-unemotional traits were assessed with a shortened 12-item version of the 24-item Inventory of Callous Unemotional Traits (ICU; Hawes et al, 2014b ; Zheng et al, 2021 ; see Table 1 ). Each item is scored on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = not at all true , 1 = somewhat true , 2 = mostly true , 3 = definitely true ) in response to the stem “indicate how well the following statements described you today.” This ICU scale includes two subscales: callousness (6 items; ordinal ω w = 0.48, ordinal ω b = 0.91) and uncaring (5 items; ordinal ω w = 0.71, ordinal ω b = 0.91).…”

“…In addition to dysfunctional parenting practices, it is this fearlessness that may explain why individuals with CU traits have been less successfully served by treatment efforts (Hawes et al, 2014a ; McMahon et al, 2021 ). Distinctions have also been made regarding the structure of CU traits, with studies having identified three (callousness, uncaring, unemotional; Ray & Frick, 2020 ) or two (callousness, uncaring; Hawes et al, 2014b ; Zheng et al, 2021 ) dimensions. Callousness tends to capture deficient empathy and guilt, uncaring reflects an aloof attitude regarding others, and unemotionality is defined as impoverished emotional experiences.…”

Callous–unemotional traits linked to earlier onset of self-reported and official delinquency in incarcerated boys.

“…Items on the ICU, including “I feel bad or guilty when I do something wrong” (reverse-scored), “I do not care who I hurt to get what I want,” “I do not care about doing things well,” and “I do not show my emotions to others,” are rated on a 4-point scale (0 = not true at all , 1 = somewhat true , 2 = very true , and 3 = definitely true ). The ICU has been validated in several incarcerated male youth samples (Kimonis et al, 2008; Pechorro et al, 2016; Zheng et al, 2021). Assessed using the Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level and Flesch Reading Ease tests (Flesch, 1948), the ICU is appropriate and comprehensible for children aged 7 years and above (Houghton et al, 2013).…”