Reliability and Construct Validity of Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version Scores Among Incarcerated Adolescent Girls

• NCJ Number: 237471
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 38 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2011 Pages: 965-987
• Author(s): Daliah L. Bauer; Lindsay A. Whitman; David S. Kosson
• Date Published: October 2011
• Length: 23 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH49111; MH57714
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report examines the utility of assessing psychopathic traits in adolescent females.

Abstract

Although recent studies have demonstrated the utility of assessing psychopathic traits in adolescent males, there is substantially less evidence on the utility of assessing psychopathic traits in adolescent females. This study investigated the reliability and construct validity of the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PLC:YV) among a sample of 80 incarcerated adolescent females. Reliability analyses indicated high interrater agreement and internal consistency for PCL:YV scores. Consistent with research on adults and adolescent male offenders, psychopathic traits were associated with a greater number of conduct disorder and alcohol dependence symptoms, earlier onset of criminal behavior, a propensity toward institutional violence, and interpersonal behaviors associated with psychopathy. Consistent with some prior studies of youth, there were no negative relationships between PCL:YV scores and internalizing disorder diagnoses and some positive associations between psychopathy ratings and negative affectivity. Results suggest that assessing psychopathic traits in adolescent females provides meaningful information regarding criminal behavior, patterns, and personality traits in youth. (Published Abstract)