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This study provides the first examination of the Childhood and Adolescent Taxon Scale – Self-report (CATS-SR) proxy measure of the persistent antisocial behavior dimension of psychopathy, based on childhood and adolescent history, in a European context and with female youth. The CATS-SR is evaluated in a sample of 1,134 male and female youth recruited from forensic or school settings in Portugal. The CATS-SR did not significantly differ for male and female youth seen in forensic settings, but was higher in male than female youth recruited from schools, and higher in youth seen in forensic than in school settings. The CATS-SR was positively and moderately correlated with self-report psychopathy construct measures that included items tapping interpersonal and affective facets of psychopathy such as callousness and impulsivity. It also correlated as expected with age of first criminal contact, crime seriousness, conduct disorder diagnosis, drug use, and having unprotected sex. The findings suggest that the CATS-SR has discriminant, convergent, and criterion-related validity, and could therefore be useful in assessments of the persistent antisocial dimension of psychopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and validation of empirically sound measures that operationalize the Triarchic model of psychopathy among youth is currently in the nascent stage. The present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of a brief refined measure of the Triarchic model of psychopathy based on the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI-Tri-S) among a mixed-gender school sample of 782 youth (M = 15.87 years, SD = 1.72) from Portugal. Confirmatory factor analysis offered support for the theoretically expected three-factor structure. Cross-gender measurement invariance using the present sample and cross-sample measurement invariance of the YPI-Tri-S using a previously collected forensic sample of institutionalized males was established. The YPI-Tri-S showed adequate psychometric properties in terms of discriminant validity, convergent validity, concurrent criterion-related validity, known-groups validity, and internal consistency. Findings indicate that YPI-Tri-S is a valuable brief and psychometrically reliable and valid self-report measure of the Triarchic model of psychopathy for use in diverse samples of youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-Report Delinquency scales have formed the basis of much understanding of juvenile delinquency today, but further improvement and extensive measurement research on self-report measures of crime are needed. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the shorter general delinquency scale version of the classic commonly used Self-Report of Delinquency (SRD) measure created for the original National Youth Survey (NYS) using a sample (N = 412) of male (n = 200) and female (n = 212) at-risk Portuguese youths. The shorter version of the SRD demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability, namely in terms of its latent one-factor structure, internal consistency, convergent validity, divergent validity, concurrent criterion validity and discriminant groups validity that overall justifies its use among this population. The shorter general delinquency scale version of the SRD is a valid and reliable measure from a modern psychometric perspective that can be used with at-risk youths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensation seeking is a robust predictor of a wide array of conduct problems that include juvenile delinquency and antisocial behaviors during adolescence and young adulthood. The primary aim of the present study was to adapt the Brief Sensation-Seeking Scale (BSSS) for use in research on youths atrisk for delinquency. With a sample of 412 male and female participants (M = 13.19 years, SD = 1.41) from Portugal, confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the one-factor latent structure of the scale obtained a good fit, and measurement invariance across gender was demonstrated. The BSSS showed mostly good psychometric properties, namely in terms of internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha and omega coefficient), convergent validity (with delinquent behaviors and dark triad traits of personality), discriminant validity (with self-esteem and self-control), and criterion-related validity (with health-risk behaviors such as drug use, unprotected sex) that overall justifies its use among the adolescent population at risk for delinquency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe dark core of personality is a recent construct that encompasses the malevolent, antagonistic, and aversive side of human nature that represents the common inner core of dark personality traits. The aim of the present study is to develop a short, multidimensional, and invariant version of the dark core of personality D70 measure. Two samples of participants were used in the current study (N = 570, M = 35.42 years, SD = 11.41, range = 18–69; N = 242, M = 30.19 years, SD = 12.78, range = 16–77). The new D25 measure was developed, consisting of five factors – Callousness, Deceitfulness, Vindictiveness, Narcissistic Entitlement, and Sadism. All the structural models examined obtained adequate fits (1-factor, 5-factor, 5-factor bifactor, 5-factor 2nd order), but the 5-factor 2nd order model was considered the best option. Internal consistency/reliability, as measured by the alpha and omega coefficients and more traditional indicators, was mainly good. Construct validity (e.g., with moral disengagement, low self-control, and empathy measures) and criterion-related validity (e.g., with justice-involvement variables) were demonstrated. Scalar measurement invariance across gender and age was established, with male participants and younger participants scoring significantly higher than female participants and older participants. The findings provide support for the use of the D25 as a valid and reliable short multidimensional measure of the dark core of personality construct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]