Citation

Pechorro PS, Poiares CA, Vieira RX, Maroco J, Nunes C, de Jesus SN. Int. J. Law Psychiatry 2014; 37(6): 619-627.

Affiliation

Research Center for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics (CIEO)-University of Algarve (UAlg), Portugal.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ijlp.2014.02.036

PMID

24674739

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze the role of psychopathic traits in female juvenile delinquency. Using a sample of 236 young females from the Juvenile Detention Centers of the Portuguese Ministry of Justice and schools in the Lisbon area, a group of female youths with high psychopathic traits (n=118; M=15.84years of age; range=14-18years of age) and a group of female youths with low psychopathic traits (n=118; M=15.77years of age; range=14-18years of age) were formed based on the Portuguese version of the Antisocial Process Screening Device-Self-report (APSD-SR). The results showed that young females with high psychopathic traits start engaging in criminal activities and come into contact with the justice system earlier in life; exhibit higher levels of behavioral problems, conduct disorder, delinquent behaviors and serious criminality; and demonstrate lower levels of self-esteem and pro-social behavior. The importance of some variables in predicting group membership (high versus low psychopathic traits) was established through a binary logistic regression. Our findings reinforce the importance of the psychopathy construct for the early identification of potentially high-risk female youths and for the assessment of female youths who have already come into contact with the judicial system.

Language: en