Top

Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology

Gepubliceerd in:

01-11-2012

Violence Exposure Mediates the Relation Between Callous-Unemotional Traits and Offending Patterns in Adolescents

Auteurs: Aisha L. Howard, Eva R. Kimonis, Luna C. Muñoz, Paul J. Frick

Gepubliceerd in: Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology | Uitgave 8/2012

Abstract

The link between callous-unemotional (CU) traits in youth and delinquent, aggressive and violent behavior is well-replicated in the literature. However, the mediating effects of violence exposure on this relationship are unclear. The current study addresses this important gap in the literature with a sample of 88 detained, primarily ethnic minority adolescent boys (M age = 15.57; SD = 1.28). Results indicate that exposure to violence fully mediated the relationship between CU traits and violent delinquency, and this pattern of mediation was accounted for by exposure to witnessed violence, but not direct violent victimization. Secondly, exposure to violence, both direct and witnessed forms, also mediated the relationship between CU traits and drug delinquency. These findings suggest that (a) the well-established link between CU traits and violence may be attributed to high rates of witnessed violence among this subpopulation, and (b) specific types of violence exposure may be important for predicting the offending patterns of youth high on CU traits. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

vorige artikel Diversity in Pathways to Common Childhood Disruptive Behavior Disorders

volgende artikel Effects of Parenting and Deviant Peers on Early to Mid-Adolescent Conduct Problems

Although the primary aim was to examine the relationship between CU traits and delinquent outcomes, given prior literature suggesting that CU traits may develop as a consequence to violence exposure we also ran a reverse path model to test the possibility that CU traits mediated the association between violence exposure and delinquency. In this model we specified violence exposure as the IV and CU traits as the moderator. Results indicated mediation analyses were non-significant in this direction.

To differentiate the mediating effects of drug use relative to selling of drugs, we repeated the analysis removing SRD items tapping into selling drugs, thus limiting only to those items specifically involving drug use. Results held for full mediation of CU traits on drug use by direct victimization (indirect, β = 0.12, p < 0.05, Δ direct effect from β = 0.30 p < 0.05 in the first model to β = 0.10, p = 0.38 in the second), and were marginal for witnessing violence (indirect, β = 0.08, p = 0.07, Δ direct effect from β = 0.30 p < 0.05 in the first model to β = 0.10, p = 0.38 in the second).

To test whether the model was specific to CU traits and whether violence exposure accounts for the link between other types of antisocial/externalizing traits and violent delinquency, we re-ran a second mediation model substituting impulsivity for CU traits. Impulsivity was measured using the Antisocial Process Screening Device (Frick and Hare 2001). This alternative model did not reveal any significant effects. This suggests that violence exposure fully accounts for greater violent delinquency specifically among youth high on CU traits, who are at greater risk for antisocial outcomes due to weak moral development, but does not account for violent delinquency among youth with more general externalizing tendencies, namely disinhibition.

Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.

Bernstein, D. P., Stein, J. A., & Handelsman, L. (1998). Predicting personality pathology among adult patients with substance use disorders: effects of childhood maltreatment. Addictive Behaviors, 6, 855–868.CrossRef

Blackburn, R., & Coid, J. W. (1998). Psychopathy and the dimensions of personality disorder in violent offenders. Personality and Individual Differences, 25, 129–145.CrossRef

Blair, R. J. R. (1999). Responsiveness to distress cues in the child with psychopathic tendencies. Personality and Individual Differences, 27, 135–145.CrossRef

Blonigen, D. M., Sullivan, E. A., Hicks, B. M., & Patrick, C. J. (2011). Facets of PCLR psychopathy in relation to trauma exposure and PTSD symptomatology in an incarcerated sample of women: Mediation via borderline personality traits. In J. Blair (Chair), Society for the Study of Psychopathy 4th Biennial Meeting. Symposium conducted at the meeting of the Society for the Study of Psychopathy, Montreal, CA.

Breslau, N., Davis, G. C., & Schultz, L. R. (2003). Posttraumatic stress disorder and the incidence of nicotine, alcohol, and other drug disorders in persons who have experienced trauma. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60, 289–294.PubMedCrossRef

Brown, P. J., & Wolfe, J. (1994). Substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder comorbidity. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 35, 51–59.PubMedCrossRef

Byrne, B. (1994). Structural equation modeling with EQS and EQS/Windows: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Campbell, M. A., Porter, S., & Santor, D. (2004). Psychopathic traits in adolescent offenders: an evaluation of criminal history, clinical, and psychosocial correlates. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 22, 23–47.CrossRef

Caputo, A. A., Frick, P. J., & Brodsky, S. L. (1999). Family violence and juvenile sex offending: the potential mediating role of psychopathic traits and negative attitudes toward women. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 26, 338–356.CrossRef

Christian, R. E., Frick, P. J., Hill, N. L., Tyler, L., & Frazer, D. R. (1997). Psychopathy and conduct problems in children: II. Implications for subtyping children with conduct problems. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 36(2), 233–241.CrossRef

Cooley, M. R., Turner, S. M., & Beidel, D. C. (1995). The emotional impact of children’s exposure to community violence: a preliminary study. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 34, 1362–1368.CrossRef

Cooley-Quille, M., Boyd, R. C., Frantz, E., & Walsh, J. (2001). Emotional and behavioral impact of exposure to community violence in inner-city adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 30(1), 199–206.PubMedCrossRef

Dunn, L. M., & Dunn, L. M. (1997). Peabody Picture Vocabulary

Elliott, D. S., & Ageton, S. (1980). Reconciling ethnicity and class differences in self-reported and official estimates of delinquency. American Sociological Review, 45(1), 95–110.CrossRef

Elliott, D. S., & Huizinga, D. (1984). The relationship between delinquent behavior and ADM problems. Boulder: Behavioral Research Institute.

Essau, C. A., Sasagawa, S., & Frick, P. J. (2006). Callous-unemotional traits in a community sample of adolescents. Assessment, 13, 454–469.PubMedCrossRef

Fanti, K. A., Frick, P. J., & Georgiou, S. (2009). Linking callous-unemotional traits to instrumental and non-instrumental forms of aggression. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 31, 285–298.CrossRef

Farrell, A. D., & Bruce, S. E. (1997). Impact of exposure to community violence on violent behavior and emotional distress among urban adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 26(1), 2–14.PubMedCrossRef

Fitzpatrick, K. M. (1993). Exposure to violence and presence of depression among low-income African American youth. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 528–531.PubMedCrossRef

Ford, M. E., & Linney, J. A. (1995). Comparative analysis of juvenile sexual offenders, violent nonsexual offenders, and status offenders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 10, 56–70.CrossRef

Frick, P. J. (2004). The Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits. Unpublished rating scale.

Frick, P. J. (2006). Developmental pathways to conduct disorder. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 15(2), 311–331.PubMedCrossRef

Frick, P. J. (2009). Extending the construct of psychopathy to youths: implications for understanding, diagnosing, and treating antisocial children and adolescents. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 12, 803–812.

Frick, P. J., & Dantagnan, A. L. (2005). Predicting the stability of conduct problems in children with and without callous-unemotional traits. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 14(4), 469–485.CrossRef

Frick, P. J., & Dickens, C. (2006). Current perspectives on conduct disorder. Current Psychiatry Reports, 8, 59–72.PubMedCrossRef

Frick, P.J., & Hare, R.D. (2001). The antisocial process screening device. Toronto:Multi-Health Systems.

Frick, P. J., & White, S. F. (2008). The importance of callous-unemotional traits for developmental models of aggressive and antisocial behavior. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49(4), 359–375.PubMedCrossRef

Frick, P. J., Lilienfeld, S. O., Ellis, M., Loney, B., & Silverthorn, P. (1999). The association between anxiety and psychopathic traits dimensions in children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 27(5), 383–392.PubMedCrossRef

Frick, P. J., Bodin, S. D., & Barry, C. T. (2000). Psychopathic traits and conduct problems in community and clinic-referred samples of children: further development of the Psychopathic traits Screening Device. Psychological Assessment, 12, 382–393.PubMedCrossRef

Frick, P. J., Cornell, A. H., Barry, C. T., Bodin, S. D., & Dane, H. E. (2003a). Callous-unemotional traits and conduct problems in the prediction of conduct problem severity, aggression, and self-report of delinquency. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 31(4), 457–470.PubMedCrossRef

Frick, P. J., Kimonis, E. R., Dandreaux, D. M., & Farrell, J. M. (2003b). The 4 year stability of psychopathic traits in non-referred youth. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 21(6), 713–736.CrossRef

Frick, P. J., Stickle, T. R., Dandreaux, D. M., Farrell, J. M., & Kimonis, E. R. (2005). Callous-unemotional traits in predicting the severity and stability of conduct problems and delinquency. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 33(4), 471–487.PubMedCrossRef

Gerwirtz, A. H., & Edleson, J. L. (2007). Young children’s exposure to intimate partner violence: towards a developmental risk and resilience framework for research and intervention. Journal of Family Violence, 22, 151–163.CrossRef

Haapasalo, J., & Hamalainen, T. (1996). Childhood family problems and current psychiatric problems among young violent and property offenders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 34, 1394–1401.CrossRef

Hawes, D. J., Dadds, M. R., Frost, A. D. J., & Hasking, P. A. (2011). Do childhood callous-unemotional traits drive change in parenting choices? Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 40(4), 507–518.PubMedCrossRef

Hicks, B. M., Markon, K., Patrick, C. J., Krueger, R., & Newman, J. P. (2004). Identifying psychopathy subtypes on the basis of personality structure. Psychological Assessment, 16, 276–288.PubMedCrossRef

Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. (1995). Evaluating model fit. In R. H. Hoyle (Ed.), Structural equation modeling. Concepts, issues, and applications (pp. 76–99). London: Sage.

Jang, K.L., Stein, M.B., Taylor, S., Asmundson, G.J., & Livesley, W.J. (2003). Exposure to traumatic events and experiences: aetiological relationships with personality function. Psychiatry Research, 120(1), 61–69.

Karpman, B. (1941). On the need for separating psychopathy into two distinct clinical types: symptomatic and idiopathic. Journal of Clinical Psychopathology, 3, 112–137.

Khantzian, E. J. (1985). The self-medication hypothesis of addictive disorders: focus on heroin and cocaine dependence. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 142, 1259–1264.PubMed

Kimonis, E. R., Frick, P. J., Boris, N. W., Smyke, A. T., Cornell, A. H., Farrell, J. M., et al. (2006a). Callous-unemotional features, behavioral inhibition, and parenting: independent predictors of aggression in a high-risk preschool sample. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 15(6), 745–756.CrossRef

Kimonis, E. R., Frick, P. J., Fazekas, H., & Loney, B. R. (2006b). Psychopathic traits, aggression, and the processing of emotional stimuli in non-referred children. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 24, 21–37.CrossRef

Kimonis, E. R., Frick, P. J., Munoz, L. C., & Aucoin, K. J. (2008a). Callous-unemotional traits and the emotional processing of distress cues in detained boys: testing the moderating role of aggression, exposure to community violence, and histories of abuse. Development and Psychopathology, 20, 569–589.PubMedCrossRef

Kimonis, E. R., Frick, P. J., Skeem, J. L., Marsee, M. A., Cruise, K., Muñoz, L. C., Aucoin, K. J., & Morris, A. S. (2008b). Assessing callous-unemotional traits in adolescent offenders: Validation of the inventory of callous-unemotional traits. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry. Special Issue: Psychopathy and risk assessment in children and adolescents, 31(3), 241–252. doi:10.1016/j.ijlp.2008.04.002.PubMedCrossRef

Kline, R. B. (1998). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. New York: Guilford Press.

Krischer, M. K., & Sevecke, K. (2008). Early traumatization and psychopathy in female and male juvenile offenders. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 31(3), 253–262.PubMedCrossRef

Larson, H., Andershed, H., & Lichtenstein, P. (2006). A genetic factor explains most of the variation in the psychopathic personality. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 115, 221–230.

Lawing, K., Frick, P. J., & Cruise, K. R. (2010). Differences in offending patterns between adolescent sex offenders high or low in callous-unemotional traits. Psychological Assessment, 22(2), 298–305.PubMedCrossRef

Lee, L. C., Kotch, J. B., & Cox, C. E. (2004). Child maltreatment in families experiencing domestic violence. Violence and Victims, 19(5), 573–591.PubMedCrossRef

Loney, B. R., Taylor, J., Butler, M. A., & Iacono, W. G. (2007). Adolescent psychopathy features: 6-year temporal stability and the prediction of externalizing symptoms during the transition to adulthood. Aggressive Behavior, 33, 242–252.PubMedCrossRef

Lykken, D. T. (1995). The antisocial personalities. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Lynam, D. R., Caspi, A., Moffitt, T. E., Loeber, R., & Stouthamer-Loeber, M. (2007). Longitudinal evidence that psychopathy scores in early adolescence predict adult psychopathy. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 116, 155–165.PubMedCrossRef

Lynam, D. R., Miller, D. J., Vachon, D., Loeber, R., & Stouthamer-Loeber, M. (2009). Psychopathy in adolescence predicts official reports of offending in adulthood. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 7(3), 189–207.PubMedCrossRef

MacCallum, R. C., & Austin, J. T. (2000). Applications of structural equation modeling in psychological research. Annual Review of Psychology, 51, 201–226.PubMedCrossRef

MacKinnon, D. (2008). Introduction to statistical mediation analysis. Mahwah: Erlbaum Psychological Press.

Main, M., & George, C. (1985). Responses of abused and disadvantaged toddlers to distress in agemates: a study in the day-care setting. Developmental Psychology, 21, 407–412.CrossRef

Mrug, S., & Windle, M. (2009). Initiation of alcohol use in early adolescence: links with exposure to community violence across time. Addictive Behaviors, 34(9), 779–781.PubMedCrossRef

Muñoz, L. C., & Frick, P. J. (2007). The reliability, stability, and predictive utility of the self-report version of the antisocial process screening device. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 48(4), 299–312.PubMedCrossRef

Muñoz, L. C., Pakalniskiene, V., & Frick, P. J. (2011). Parental monitoring and youth behavior problems: moderation by callous-unemotional traits over time. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 20, 261–269. doi:10.1007/s00787-011-0172-6.CrossRef

Muthen, B. O., & Muthen, L. K. (2003). MPlus Version 5.1.

Muthén, B., du Toit, S. H. C., & Spisic, D. (1997). Robust inference using weighted least squares and quadratic estimating equations in latent variable modeling with categorical and continuous outcomes.<http://gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/muthen/articles/Article_075.pdf> Accepted for publication in Psychometrika. Found on http://gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/muthen/psychometrics.htm.

Newman, J. P., MacCoon, D. G., Vaughn, L. J., & Sadeh, N. (2005). Validating a distinction between primary and secondary psychopathy with measures of Gray’s BIS and BAS constructs. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 114, 319–323.PubMedCrossRef

Pardini, D. A., Lochman, J. E., & Frick, P. J. (2003). Callous-unemotional traits and social-cognitive processes in adjudicated youths. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42(3), 364–371.PubMedCrossRef

Piazza, P. V., & Le Moal, M. L. (1996). Pathophysiological basis of vulnerability to drug abuse: role of an interaction between stress, glucocorticoids, and dopaminergic neurons. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 36, 359–378.PubMedCrossRef

Porter, S. (1996). Without conscience or without active conscience? The etiology of psychopathy revisited. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 1(2), 179–189.CrossRef

Poythress, N. G., & Skeem, J. L. (2005). Disaggregating psychopathy: Where and how to look for variants. In C. J. Patrick (Ed.), Handbook of psychopathy (pp. 172–192). New York: Guilford Press.

Righthand, S., & Welch, C. (2001). Juveniles who have sexually offended: A review of the professional literature. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 3-4.

Simpson, T. L. (2002). Women’s treatment utilization and its relationship to childhood sexual abuse history and lifetime PTSD. Substance Abuse, 23, 17–30.PubMed

Simpson, T. L., & Miller, W. R. (2002). Concomittance between childhood sexual and physical abuse and substance use problems. A review. Clinical Psychology Review, 22, 27–77.PubMedCrossRef

Skeem, J., Johansson, P., Andershed, H., Kerr, M., & Louden, J. E. (2007). Two subtypes of psychopathic violent offenders that parallel primary and secondary variants. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 116(2), 395–409.PubMedCrossRef

Smith, S. S., & Newman, J. P. (1990). Drug abuse-dependence disorders in psychopathic and nonpsychopathic criminal offenders. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 99(4), 430–439.PubMedCrossRef

SpaccarelIi, S., Bowden, B., Coatsworth, J. D., & Kim, S. (1997). Psychosocial correlates of male sexual aggression in a chronic delinquent sample. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 24, 71–95.CrossRef

Spaccarelli, S., Coatsworth, J. D., & Bowden, B. S. (1995). Exposure to serious family violence among incarcerated boys: its association with violent offending and potential mediating variables. Violence and Victims, 10(3), 163–182.PubMed

Stewart, S. H. (1996). Alcohol abuse in individuals exposed to trauma: a critical review. Psychological Bulletin, 120, 83–112.PubMedCrossRef

Tatar, J. R., Cauffman, E., Kimonis, E. R., & Skeem, J. L. (2012). Victimization history and post-traumatic stress: an analysis of psychopathy variants in male juvenile offenders. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 5, 102–113. doi:10.1080/19361521.2012.671794.CrossRef

Taylor, J., & Lang, A. R. (2005). Psychopathy and substance use disorders. In C. J. Patrick (Ed.), Handbook of psychopathy (pp. 495–511). New York: Guilford Press.

Taylor, J., Loney, B. R., Babadilla, L., Iacono, W. G., & McGue, M. (2003). Genetic and environmental influences on psychopathy trait dimensions in a community sample of male twins. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 31(6), 633–645.PubMedCrossRef

Thompson, R., & Wiley, T. R. (2009). Predictors of re-referral to child protective services: a longitudinal follow-up of an urban cohort maltreated as infants. Child Maltreatment, 14(1), 89–99.PubMedCrossRef

Vassileva, J., Kosson, D. S., Abramowitz, C., & Conrod, P. (2005). Psychopathy versus psychopathies in classifying criminal offenders. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 10, 1–18.CrossRef

Viding, E., Jones, A. P., Paul, J. F., Moffitt, T. E., & Plomin, R. (2008). Heritability of antisocial behavior at 9: do callous-unemotional traits matter? Developmental Science, 11, 17–22.PubMedCrossRef

Volkow, N. D., & Fowler, J. S. (2000). Addiction, a disease of compulsion and drive: involvement of the orbitofrontal cortex. Cerebral Cortex, 10, 318–325.PubMedCrossRef

Wareham, J., Dembo, R., Poythress, N. G., Childs, K., & Schmeidler, J. (2009). A latent class factor approach to identifying subtypes of juvenile diversion youths based on psychopathic features. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 27(1), 71–95.CrossRef

Weiler, B. L., & Widom, C. S. (1996). Psychopathy and violent behaviour in abused and neglected young adults. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 6(3), 253–271.CrossRef

Widom, C. S. (1989). Child abuse, neglect, and adult behavior: research design and findings on criminality, violence, and child abuse. The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 59(3), 355–367.PubMedCrossRef

Willoughby, M. T., Waschbusch, D., Moore, G. A., & Propper, C. B. (2011). Using the ASEBA to screen for callous-unemotional traits in early childhood factor structure, temporal stability, and utility. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 33(1), 19–30. doi:10.1007/s10862-010-9195-4.PubMedCrossRef

Titel: Violence Exposure Mediates the Relation Between Callous-Unemotional Traits and Offending Patterns in Adolescents
Auteurs: Aisha L. Howard
Eva R. Kimonis
Luna C. Muñoz
Paul J. Frick
Publicatiedatum: 01-11-2012
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology / Uitgave 8/2012
Print ISSN: 2730-7166
Elektronisch ISSN: 2730-7174
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-012-9647-2

Bohn Stafleu van Loghum

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

Abstract

Log in om toegang te krijgen

Andere artikelen Uitgave 8/2012

Perinatal Factors, Parenting Behavior, and Reactive Aggression: Does Cortisol Reactivity Mediate this Developmental Risk Process?

Factor Structure of a Sluggish Cognitive Tempo Scale in Clinically-Referred Children

Evaluating a Comprehensive Strategy to Improve Engagement to Group-based Behavioral Parent Training for High-risk Families of Children with ADHD

Semantic Language as a Mechanism Explaining the Association between ADHD Symptoms and Reading and Mathematics Underachievement

Prenatal Exposure to Maternal Smoking and Childhood Behavioural Problems: A Quasi-experimental Approach

Association between Depressive Symptoms and Negative Dependent Life Events from Late Childhood to Adolescence