Mental Health Screening of Female Juvenile Offenders: Replication of a Subtyping Strategy

Document Type

Article

Keywords

female juvenile offenders, MAYSI-2, mental health, screening, trauma

Disciplines

Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Recent research indicates that adjudicated female youth have higher rates of mental health problems and histories of trauma exposure and abuse relative to adjudicated male youth. These differences are important for gender-specific assessment, intervention, and management strategies. We replicated a subtyping strategy for adjudicated female youth based on mental health screening data from the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument - 2 (MAYSI-2) by investigating subtype differences on trauma symptoms, abuse history, and other background variables. Cluster analysis of the standard MAYSI-2 scales revealed a three cluster solution replicating results from a prior study. Additionally, results indicated expected differences between female youth with mental health problems compared to those without mental health problems with co-occurring female youth (i.e., self-reported mental health and substance abuse problems) having have greater mental health problems and more extensive abuse histories compared to other subtypes.

Article Number

1043

Publication Date

2007

Peer Reviewed

1

Comments

APA Citation: Cruise, K. R., Marsee, M. A., Dandreaux, D. M., & DePrato, D. K. (2007). Mental health screening of female juvenile offenders: Replication of a subtyping strategy. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 16(5), 615-625. doi: 10.1007/s10826-006-9111-4

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