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. 2020 Nov 23;20(1):548.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-020-02943-z.

Psychometric properties of the German version of the Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory - short version

Cyril Boonmann  1   2 , Tania Pérez  3 , Marc Schmid  3 , Jörg M Fegert  4 , Emanuel Jauk  5 , Klaus Schmeck  3
Affiliations

Psychometric properties of the German version of the Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory - short version

Cyril Boonmann et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of the current study is to examine the psychometric properties of the German Version of the Youth Psychopathic traits Inventory-Short Version (YPI-S).

Methods: A sample of 856 adolescents (age: 15-19) from the German-speaking part of Switzerland was included. All participants completed the 50-item YPI, of which we derived the 18 items of the YPI-S. Furthermore, participants completed the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Version-2 (MAYSI-2), as well a self-report delinquency questionnaire.

Results: We were able to replicate a three-factor structure and found moderate to good internal consistency for the total score as well as for the three dimensions of the YPI-S. Measurement invariance across gender was established. Furthermore, we found positive small to medium correlations with both internalizing and externalizing mental health problems, substance abuse problems, and offending behavior.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that the German version of the YPI-S is a reliable and valid screening instrument for psychopathic traits in both boys and girls from the general population in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

Keywords: CU-traits; Gender; Psychopathic traits; YPI-S.

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Conflict of interest statement

The abstract of this study has also been submitted and accepted for presentation at the 7th Congress of the European Association for Forensic Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychology & other involved professions (EFCAP), which was originally supposed to take place in 2020, but is currently postponed to 2022.

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