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Can Callous-Unemotional Traits and Aggression Identify Children at High-Risk of Anti-Social Behavior in a Low Socioeconomic Group?

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Abstract

Frick et al. (2005) proposed that Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits may be an important personality dimension associated with youth offending. The goal of the present study was to examine whether CU traits were associated with risk factors for offending in a low SES sample of children aged 10 years to 11 years in New Zealand. Two subgroups were identified: one high (High-CU/Agg group) and one low (Low-CU/Agg group) on CU traits and aggression. Results showed that scores for the High-CU/Agg group were significantly worse compared to the Low-CU/Agg group on a range of measures including stress management, caregiver criminal convictions, and dysfunctional parenting. However, analyses revealed that the measure of aggression accounted for more unique variance compared to CU traits. Further research is needed with youths from low SES communities to develop a more robust profile of potential youth offenders.

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Notes

  1. Due to problems with data collection (e.g., caregivers incorrectly completing questionnaires) a small number (seven caregivers from the original 124 sample) were excluded.

  2. One of the participating schools was residential; therefore, data collection for the children was completed at the school and parent questionnaires were completed via telephone interview.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Nina McLoughlin, Julia J. Rucklidge, Randolph C. Grace & Anthony P. McLean

Authors
  1. Nina McLoughlin
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  2. Julia J. Rucklidge
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  3. Randolph C. Grace
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  4. Anthony P. McLean
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Correspondence to Nina McLoughlin.

Appendix I

Appendix I

List of criminal activities adapted from Police crime categories (www.crime.co.nz)

  1. 1.

    Violence offenses:

    • Homicide

    • Kidnapping and abduction

    • Violent robbery

    • Grievous assault

    • Serious assault

    • Minor assault

    • Intimidation/threats

    • Group assemblies (i.e. riot)

  1. 2.

    Sexual Offenses

    • Sexual attacks

    • Sexual affronts

    • Immoral behaviour

    • Indecent videos

    • Sexual attacks

    • Abnormal sex

    • Miscellaneous

  1. 3-1

    Drugs*

    • Drugs (not cannabis)

    • Drugs (cannabis only)

  2. 3-2

    Anti-social behaviour*

    • Gaming

    • Disorder

    • Vagrancy offenses

    • Sale of liquor

  3. 3-3

    Family*

    • Family offenses (i.e. domestic disputes)

  1. 4

    Dishonesty offenses

    • Burglary

    • Car conversions etc

    • Theft

    • Receiving

    • Fraud

  1. 5.

    Property damage

    • Destruction of property

    • Endangering

  1. 6.

    Property abuse

    • Trespass

    • Littering

    • Animals

    • Postal/rail/fire service abuses

    • Arms act offenses

  1. 7.

    Administrative offence

    • Against justice

    • Births/deaths and marriages

    • Immigration

    • Racial

    • Against national interest

    • By-laws breaches

  1. 8.

    Suicide attempts**

  1. 9.

    Driving offenses **

* Categories have been subdivided.

** Categories have been added

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McLoughlin, N., Rucklidge, J.J., Grace, R.C. et al. Can Callous-Unemotional Traits and Aggression Identify Children at High-Risk of Anti-Social Behavior in a Low Socioeconomic Group?. J Fam Viol 25, 701–712 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-010-9320-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-010-9320-x

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