Abstract
The present study explored the heterogeneity of truant youth to provide a more nuanced examination of the nature of adolescent
truancy and examine distinct profiles of truant youth as they relate to externalizing behaviors. Latent profile analysis was
employed to examine the heterogeneity of truant youth by using a nationally representative sample of 1,646 truant adolescents
(49.8 % female) from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Five key indicator variables were utilized to identify
latent classes: school engagement, participation in school-based activities, grades, parental academic involvement, and number
of school days skipped. Additionally, multinomial regression was employed to examine the relationship between latent truant
youth classes and externalizing behaviors. Four classes of truant youth were identified: achievers (28.55 %), moderate students (24.30 %), academically disengaged (40.89 %), and chronic skippers (6.26 %). Additionally, group membership was found to be associated differentially with marijuana use, fighting, theft and
selling drugs. Results from the present study suggest that truant youth are not a homogenous group, but rather present with
different risk profiles as they relate to key indicators, demographic characteristics and externalizing behaviors. Implications
for practice, policy and future research are discussed.
truancy and examine distinct profiles of truant youth as they relate to externalizing behaviors. Latent profile analysis was
employed to examine the heterogeneity of truant youth by using a nationally representative sample of 1,646 truant adolescents
(49.8 % female) from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Five key indicator variables were utilized to identify
latent classes: school engagement, participation in school-based activities, grades, parental academic involvement, and number
of school days skipped. Additionally, multinomial regression was employed to examine the relationship between latent truant
youth classes and externalizing behaviors. Four classes of truant youth were identified: achievers (28.55 %), moderate students (24.30 %), academically disengaged (40.89 %), and chronic skippers (6.26 %). Additionally, group membership was found to be associated differentially with marijuana use, fighting, theft and
selling drugs. Results from the present study suggest that truant youth are not a homogenous group, but rather present with
different risk profiles as they relate to key indicators, demographic characteristics and externalizing behaviors. Implications
for practice, policy and future research are discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Empirical Research
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10964-012-9788-1
- Authors
- Brandy R. Maynard, The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk, College of Education SZB 228, The University of Texas at Austin, 1912 Speedway D4900, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Christopher P. Salas-Wright, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
- Michael G. Vaughn, School of Social Work, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Department of Public Policy Studies, Saint Louis University, Tegeler Hall, 3550 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA
- Kristen E. Peters, School of Social Work, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Department of Public Policy Studies, Saint Louis University, Tegeler Hall, 3550 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA
- Journal Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Online ISSN 1573-6601
- Print ISSN 0047-2891