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. 2017 Mar;73(3):257-278.
doi: 10.1002/jclp.22313. Epub 2016 May 16.

Assessing Callous-Unemotional Traits in Adolescents: Determining Cutoff Scores for the Inventory of Callous and Unemotional Traits

Meagan Docherty  1 , Paul Boxer  2 , L Rowell Huesmann  2 , Maureen O'Brien  2 , Brad Bushman  3
Affiliations

Assessing Callous-Unemotional Traits in Adolescents: Determining Cutoff Scores for the Inventory of Callous and Unemotional Traits

Meagan Docherty et al. J Clin Psychol. 2017 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to establish a cut score for the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits, a well-validated measure of callous-unemotional (CU) traits in youth for which there is currently no cutoff score.

Method: We analyzed data on 634 adolescents from high schools (n = 343) and juvenile detention centers (n = 291). Participants, their parents and guardians, and their teachers and staff members reported on participants' CU traits and aggressive/violent behavior.

Results: All three reports of CU traits as well as intersource composites were associated with aggression, violence, and detained status. Parent report was a better indicator compared to self-reports and teacher reports. Appropriate cut scores based on each report and composite were determined.

Conclusion: We recommend that information from all available informants should be used whenever possible, but when only one informant report is feasible, parent reports are preferable.

Keywords: adolescents; aggression; callous-unemotional traits; delinquency; violence.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
ROC curves for nine different logistic regression models predicting detained status from controls (age, binary sex, and binary race; included in all models) and various reports and composites of CU traits.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Predicted probabilities of detained status obtained from logistic regression models, with cutoff scores for ICU reports and composites at which the predicted probability exceeds .5 and .75.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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