Identifying Antisocial Youth Through Broad and Specific Measures of Personality

Abstract

Although antisocial and psychopathic traits have been linked to predatory and violent types of juvenile offending, much of what is known about these traits stems from adult-centered research. Identifying antisocial youth with reliable tools early in development could improve the prognosis of interventions. With a community sample of adolescents (N = 396, Mage = 14.64, SD = 1.52, ngirls = 230, 58%, nboys = 164, 42%), the HEXACO-PIR accounted for 57% of the variance in the APSD-YV. Lower ratings of Honesty- Humility, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness were associated with higher ratings of psychopathy, F(18, 956.49) = 18.347, p < .001, Wilk’s λ = .432. The HEXACO-PI-R was associated with a range of antisocial outcomes, including lower intensity antisocial beliefs and attitudes, however, the APSD-YV had stronger associations with higher intensity antisocial behaviours. Findings suggest that the assessment of youth antisociality may benefit from the inclusion of both broad and specific measures of personality.