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The Weinberger Adjustment Inventory-Short Form (WAI-SF) is a multidimensional measure of behavioral adjustment frequently used with forensic, clinical, and community populations. However, no previous studies have examined the WAI-SF from a more modern psychometric perspective including second-order models, measurement invariance and a better estimation of reliability. The current sample is composed of female and male young adults (N = 610, M = 21.33 years, SD = 3.09, range = 18-37) from a university context in Portugal. Results indicated that both the four-factor intercorrelated and the four-factor second order models of the WAI-SF Distress and Restraint scales showed good fits. The WAI-SF Distress and Restraint scales were negatively and significantly correlated, and the intercorrelations between the subscales of each scale ranged from moderate to high. The WAI-SF scales and subscales mostly showed adequate to good reliability in terms of McDonald's Omega and the more traditional Cronbach's Alpha. Strong cross-gender measurement invariance was demonstrated, with females scoring significantly higher than males on the Anxiety subscale of the Distress scale, and on the Suppression of Aggression, Impulse Control, Consideration of Others, Responsibility subscales, and Restraint scale. The WAI-SF scales and subscales showed distinctive correlates with other measures (e.g., low self-control, psychopathy) and variables (e.g., delinquency seriousness, substance use). Considering our findings, the use of the WAI-SF is recommended among the Portuguese young adult population and its use in criminological research is encouraged. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

This study analyzed offenders’ perceptions about distinct sanctions and their adequacy for different crimes, checking if these ideas apply to their crime. We covered a total of 163 adult offenders who were sanctioned with a non-custodial order. The results show that participants tended to express a punitive attitude toward crime, apart from their offenses. Participants who committed driving or drug trafficking offenses were those that revealed congruence regarding the adequacy of the sentence and the usefulness of the sanction imposed. Regarding sentences’ purposes, we noticed most participants considered punishment and general deterrence as the primary purposes. The main contribution of this study lies in its educational value about the cognitive particularities and specific needs of each type of offender. Not attending to offenders’ perceptions regarding sanctions may function as an obstacle for an efficient implementation of the Justice, in terms of their adherence to the sanctions, and consequently their rehabilitation.

Psychopathy and trauma exposure are robustly associated with youth conduct problems, but the interrelation of these constructs is unclear. The objective of the present study is to examine psychopathy mediation effects related to trauma events and trauma reactions and juvenile delinquency, conduct disorder, crime seriousness, and proactive overt aggression outcomes. The sample consisted of N =388 ( M = 16.01 years, SD = 1.03 years, age range = 13–18 years) male youths from Portugal. Path analysis procedures revealed that psychopathy partially mediates the relation between trauma events and the juvenile delinquency, conduct disorder, crime seriousness outcomes, and fully mediates the relation between trauma events and the proactive overt aggression outcome. Trauma reactions have no direct significant effect on psychopathy, and psychopathy does not mediate the relation between trauma reactions and the examined outcomes. Research on trauma and adverse childhood experiences should encompass both events and reactions to those events as they have differential associations with psychopathy and externalizing outcomes. Trauma-informed service, supervision, and treatment is essential for understanding antisocial development and psychological maladjustment among youth.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a highly prevalent phenomenon worldwide and is considered a severe violation of human rights. Intimate partner homicide (IPH) and attempted intimate partner homicide (AIPH) although less frequent have a severe direct or indirect impact on victims. Despite the vast literature on IPV and IPH, there is still scarce research on AIPH. Thus, this study aimed to analyze whether perpetrators of IPV, IPH, and AIPH differ from each other, as well as to identify the factors that predict violence in intimacy. For those purposes, we performed a comparative analysis between 50 male individuals convicted of IPH, 27 convicted of AIPH, and 168 convicted of IPV from Portugal. The data were collected using an interview and a set of psychological measures. Results revealed that, although IPV, IPH, and AIPH perpetrators’ share some characteristics, significant differences were found between them. IPV perpetrators were more prone to perpetrate violent behaviors against an intimate partner or ex-partner than IPH or AIPH offenders. The use of weapons and separation from the victim increases the probability of committing IPH or AIPH. Being divorced, having no children, and committing other crimes than domestic violence are predictors of AIPH. These results have some practical implications, in terms of both risk prediction and risk management. Accurate and comprehensive tools should be included as a routine in the primary care services, as well as in the child care services and in victim support services. Prevention and intervention efforts must be comprehensive, involving work with perpetrators and victims.

The present study aims to identify and analyze the interpretative repertoires on love and intimate relationships used by wife batterers, exploring how the repertoires may influence the development and experience of violent intimate relationships, and how this is linked to the identity issues. Twelve wife batterers participated in the study, answering to an individual interview on their lives’ love story. Through a discourse analysis of the data, five distinct interpretative repertoires were identified—romantic, companion, passionate, pragmatic and game-playing love—and their meaning construction was analyzed. It is discussed what repertoires reveal about gender roles prescribed by the model of masculinity, and how these gender roles constrain the construction of the identity, the personal growth and the self-actualization of the batterers.

The literature considers intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators to be a heterogeneous group. In Portugal, IPV perpetrators may be sentenced to either of two types of sentences: deprivation of freedom or alternatives to prison (in the community). In the present study, we performed a comparative analysis between 76 male individuals sentenced to prison and 76 male individuals sentenced to community measures for crimes against their current or former partners, using a set of psychological measures. The results indicate that although incarcerated and nonincarcerated IPV perpetrators demonstrate considerable differences, some similarities may also be observed. Incarcerated IPV perpetrators present the lowest socioeconomic status and education, perpetrate more severe IPV, and have more criminal convictions. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that the use of weapons and objects increased the probability of IPV perpetrators belonging to the prison group above and beyond sociodemographic variables. Based on these results, implications for IPV perpetrators’ treatment are discussed.

Aggression can be considered a multidimensional construct that influences various forms of antisocial behavior, including juvenile delinquency and conduct problems. The aim of the present study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Brief Peer Conflict Scale–20 item version (PCS-20) among a Portuguese forensic sample (N = 192) of incarcerated male juvenile offenders ( M = 16.62 years; SD = 1.52 years; age range = 13-18 years). The PCS-20 demonstrated good psychometric properties in terms of its four-factor structure, internal consistency, convergent validity, and discriminant validity that generally justify its use among incarcerated male youth. The findings provide additional support for the extension of the PCS-20 across different cultures, ethnic groups, and samples.

Accumulating evidence shows callous–unemotional (CU) traits to delineate a subgroup of youth with unique etiological underpinnings to their conduct problems. Due to its inclusion as a conduct disorder specifier in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5), research that evaluates the psychometric properties of measures used to assess this construct is essential. The present study contributes to this area of investigation by examining two recently developed brief versions (10- and 12-item) of the Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits (ICU) among a Portuguese sample of incarcerated male juvenile offenders ( N = 221). Each of these shortened versions demonstrated evidence in terms of factor structure, internal consistency, and convergent/discriminant validity with theoretically meaningful constructs. In line with prior research, there was evidence of unique correlations between separate ICU subscales and several outcomes of interest. Study findings indicate that the two shortened versions of the ICU, and particularly the ICU-12, may offer researchers and clinicians a relatively brief and psychometrically sound means of assessing CU traits.

Research on narcissism has a long tradition, but there is limited knowledge regarding its application among female youth, especially for forensic samples of incarcerated female youth. Drawing on 377 female adolescents (103 selected from forensic settings and 274 selected from school settings) from Portugal, the current study is the first to examine simultaneously the psychometric properties of a brief version of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI-13) among females drawn from incarcerated and community settings. The results support the three-factor structure model of narcissism after the removal of one item due to its low factor loading. Internal consistency, convergent validity, and discriminant validity showed promising results. In terms of criterion-related validity, significant associations were found with criterion-related variables such as age of criminal onset, conduct disorder, crime severity, violent crimes, and alcohol and drug use. The findings provide support for use of the NPI-13 among female juveniles., The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT; Grant SFRH/BPD/86666/2012) with cofinancing of the European Social Fund (POPH/FSE), the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science (MEC), and FEDER (PT2020 Partnership Agreement; UID/PSI/01662/2013). This study was also partially supported through project UID/SOC/04020/2013

Research on adolescent aggression often distinguishes between reactive and proactive aggression, but there is limited knowledge regarding the application or measurement of these subtypes of aggression among female youth, especially forensic samples of female youth. Drawing on 377 girls (103 selected from forensic settings and 274 selected from school settings) from Portugal, the current study is the first to simultaneously examine the psychometric properties of the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ) in incarcerated girls and community girls. The results support the use of the RPQ in terms of its two-factor structure, measurement invariance, internal consistency, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and known-groups validity. Significant associations were found with several criterion-related variables such as age of criminal onset, age of first problem with the law, conduct disorder, crime severity, violent crimes, and alcohol and drug use. Findings are discussed in terms of the use of the RPQ among incarcerated girls and community girls.

Intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a major social problem, and it is important to determine the predictors of this violent behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between intimate partner violence (IPV) and IPH and to identify the variables that predict IPH. The sample was composed of 35 perpetrators of IPH, who were compared with 137 perpetrators of IPV. The data were collected using the Spousal Abuse Risk Assessment. The data suggest that IPH presents different dynamics from IPV. Being older, exhibiting suicidal and/or homicidal ideation/intent, and the use of weapons and/or credible threats of death substantially increase a man’s risk of committing IPH. Inversely, not being single, violating conditional release, and being victimized in childhood decrease the likelihood of committing IPH. These findings reinforce the assumption that IPV and IPH have both commonalities and differences and challenge the view that IPV and IPH are different phenomena and that intimate partner murder is an inexplicable event. Implications for preventing IPV and IPH are discussed.

This study examines the efficacy of an intervention program with male batterers. Twenty-six batterers who attended the intervention and 19 batterers who did not attend the intervention were compared using self-report measures. Batterers who attended the intervention showed significant reductions in abusive behaviors, in attitudes toward domestic violence, in risk of future violence, and in psychopathology, and an increase in self-esteem and problem solving. These changes were confirmed at the 6-month follow-up. The control group also revealed reductions in abusive behaviors, psychopathology, and risk of violence; however, the intervention group showed higher effect sizes. Comparing the groups at post-test, differences were found on abusive behaviors, attitudes, and risk of violence; at the follow-up, differences were found on abusive behaviors, attitudes, self-esteem, and problem solving, with intervention group showing more positive changes. These findings suggest that the intervention program has a therapeutic effect and reduces the risk of future violence.

The aim of this study was to examine the role of psychopathic traits in the crime onset age of male juvenile delinquents. A group of early crime onset ( n = 102), a group of late crime onset ( n = 102), and a non-delinquent group ( n = 102) were formed from a sample of 306 male youths from Portuguese juvenile detention centres and schools. Results showed that early crime onset participants scored higher on psychopathic measures, self-reported delinquency, crime seriousness and conduct disorder than late crime onset participants, and the non-delinquent participants. Psychopathic-traits scores showed significant associations with age of crime onset, age at first encounter with the law, age of first incarceration, self-reported delinquency, seriousness of crime and conduct disorder.

The aim of this study was to analyze the role of psychopathic traits in the age of crime onset of female juvenile delinquents. Using a sample of 132 young females from the Juvenile Detention Centers of the Portuguese Ministry of Justice and from schools in the Lisbon region, a group of early crime onset (n = 44), a group of late crime onset (n = 44), and a nondelinquent school group (n = 44) were formed. Results showed that early crime onset participants score higher on psychopathy measures, self-reported delinquency, and crime seriousness than late crime onset participants and school participants. Psychopathic-traits scores were significantly associated with age of crime onset, age at first trouble with the law, and frequency and seriousness of crime., This article was partially financed by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) of Portugal.

The current study compared the psychometric properties and incremental validity of the callous-unemotional (CU) traits dimensions from four self-report measures of youth psychopathic traits, including the Antisocial Process Screening Device Self-Report version (APSD-SR), the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI), Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory–Short version (YPI-S), and the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) among a sample of male youth incarcerated in Portuguese detention centers (N = 221). Across these measures, estimates of reliability and internal consistency were gener- ally good; however, the correlations between measures ranged from very low to high suggesting moderate convergent valid- ity. With regard to incremental validity, the Callousness dimension of the ICU was the best predictor of aggression, conduct disorder, and crime seriousness, whereas the Uncaring dimension of the ICU was the best predictor of age of crime onset. The current findings have important implications regarding the assessment of CU traits., This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT; Grant SFRH/BPD/86666/2012) with co-financing of the European Social Fund (POPH/FSE), the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science through national funds, and co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (UID/PSI/01662/2013). We wish to thank the following Portuguese juvenile detention centers for their collaboration: Bela Vista, Mondego, Navarro de Paiva, Olivais, Padre Antonio Oliveira, Santo Antonio, Santa Clara, Prisao-Escola de Leiria. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to James V. Ray, Department of Criminal Justice, University of Texas at San Antonio, 501 W. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78207; e-mail: james.ray@utsa.edu.

The objective of the present study was to analyze the role of psychopathic traits in juvenile delinquency. Using a sample of 543 young males from the Juvenile Detention Centers of the Portuguese Ministry of Justice and from schools in the Lisbon region, a group of high psychopathic traits ( n = 281) and a group of low psychopathic traits ( n = 262) were formed based on the Portuguese version of Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD). Results showed that youths with high psychopathic traits start engaging in criminal activities earlier in life, come into contact with the justice system earlier in life, and have higher levels of conduct disorder, behavior problems, and delinquent behaviors as well as lower levels of self-esteem.

This meta-analysis was conducted to examine predictors of two indicators of inmates' adjustment to prison life: institutional infractions and health care utilization. Focusing on male prisoners, the final data set consisted of 90 studies and produced 1,815 correlations. Predictors were grouped into personal and contextual characteristics. Regarding institutional infractions, the strongest personal predictors were prior prison misconduct, aggressiveness, impulsiveness, antisocial traits, institutional risk, and younger age. At the contextual level, higher infraction rates were observed in prisons with more gang activity, and in prisons housing more inmates and a larger proportion of maximum security inmates. Major correlates of health care utilization were prior mental health problems, older age, and physical symptoms. Moderator effects were observed for prison sample size, sample selection, length of follow-up, geographic location, and type of analysis. These findings may help to improve prison classification procedures to optimize prisoners' management and treatment., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion