Autor(es):
Pechorro, Pedro Fernandes dos Santos ; Poiares, Carlos Alberto ; Vieira, Rui Xavier ; Maroco, João ; Nunes, Maria Cristina de Oliveira Salgado ; Jesus, Saul Neves de
Data: 2014
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.12/3298
Origem: Repositório do Ispa - Instituto Universitário
Assunto(s): Female juvenile delinquency; Psychopathic traits; Conduct disorder; Behavioral problems; Self-esteem; Female juvenile delinquency; Female juvenile delinquency; Psychopathic traits; Psychopathic traits; Conduct disorder; Conduct disorder; Behavioral problems; Behavioral problems; Self-esteem; Self-esteem
Descrição
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 = 15.84 years of age; range = 14–18 years of age) and a group of female youths with low psychopathic traits (n = 118; M = 15.77 years of age; range = 14–18 years 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.
