Abstract
We report the development and psychometric evaluations of a self-report instrument designed to screen for psychopathic traits
among mainstream community adolescents. Tests of item functioning were initially conducted with 26 adolescents. In a second
study the new instrument was administered to 150 high school adolescents, 73 of who had school records of suspension for antisocial
behavior. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a 4-factor structure (Impulsivity α = 0.73, Self-Centredness α = 0.70, Callous-Unemotional
α = 0.69, and Manipulativeness α = 0.83). In a third study involving 328 high school adolescents, 130 with records of suspension
for antisocial behavior, competing measurement models were evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. The superiority of
a measurement model represented by four correlated factors was supported, and this model was invariant across gender and age.
The findings provide researchers and clinicians with a psychometrically strong, self-report instrument and a greater understanding
of psychopathic traits in mainstream adolescents.
among mainstream community adolescents. Tests of item functioning were initially conducted with 26 adolescents. In a second
study the new instrument was administered to 150 high school adolescents, 73 of who had school records of suspension for antisocial
behavior. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a 4-factor structure (Impulsivity α = 0.73, Self-Centredness α = 0.70, Callous-Unemotional
α = 0.69, and Manipulativeness α = 0.83). In a third study involving 328 high school adolescents, 130 with records of suspension
for antisocial behavior, competing measurement models were evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. The superiority of
a measurement model represented by four correlated factors was supported, and this model was invariant across gender and age.
The findings provide researchers and clinicians with a psychometrically strong, self-report instrument and a greater understanding
of psychopathic traits in mainstream adolescents.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-19
- DOI 10.1007/s10578-012-0311-4
- Authors
- Stephen Houghton, Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009 Perth, WA, Australia
- Simon C. Hunter, School of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
- Umneea Khan, Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009 Perth, WA, Australia
- Carol Tan, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Journal Child Psychiatry & Human Development
- Online ISSN 1573-3327
- Print ISSN 0009-398X