The Effect of Juvenile Justice-Related Factors on Trajectories of Callous-Unemotional Traits

• In Event: The Importance of Environmental Influences for Youth with Juvenile Psychopathy

Abstract

Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits identify a subgroup of youth with particularly severe and persistent patterns of antisocial behavior whom are at risk for juvenile justice involvement. Research has begun to better understand the development of CU traits; however, little is known about how juvenile justice involvement might impact the development of these traits during adolescence. Using a Group-Based Trajectory Modeling (GBTM) approach, we first identified developmental trajectories of CU traits measured every six months over the course of two years among a sample of first-time justice-involved youth (n = 1,216). Additionally, we examined if factors associated with juvenile justice involvement might distinguish across identified trajectory groups (time-stable covariates; e.g., processing decision) or explain changes in trajectories over time (time-varying covariates; e.g., delinquent peer association, secure placement, living situation). The GBTM identified four CU group trajectories: a low-decreasing group (21.3%), a moderate-decreasing group (38.1%), a moderate-high decreasing group (33.8%), and a high-stable group (6.8%). Compared to the low-decreasing group, the moderate-high decreasing group showed lower IQ; were more likely to be Hispanic; were younger; and were more likely to be formally processed. Also, negative perceptions of living situation and delinquent peer association were associated with increases in CU traits over time for all groups except the high-stable group for which only delinquent peer association were related to increases in CU traits.

Authors

• Paul J. Frick, Louisiana State University

• James Ray, The University of Texas at San Antonio

• Laura Thornton, Boys Town National Research Hospital

• Tina Wall, University of New Orleans

• Laurence Steinberg, Temple University

• Elizabeth Cauffman, University of California, Irvine