A Latent Profile Analysis on Juvenile Probationer s Callous Unemotional Traits

This study aims to classify juvenile delinquents according to the callous unemotional trait factors (callous, uncaring, and unemotional) and to examine each group’s feature. 203 teens whom are sentenced to undergo probation period reported their psychological states with self-reported questionnaires. To observe the different group patterns among delinquents, latent profile analysis based on the callous unemotional trait factors was conducted. After the group distinction, the difference among the groups in other psychological states and the classification probability for each latent group was examined. The results showed that based on callous unemotional trait factors, 3 groups were distinguished and they were different in the level of callous unemotional traits, anxiety, and maltreatment. Both anxiety and maltreatment have shown to be the predictors for the latent group that are in the severe level of callous unemotional traits. This study suggests that among callous unemotional trait factors, the callousness is the key dimension that is related with the severe form of psychological dysfunction and maltreatment background.