Factor-Analysis of the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory in a Juvenile Offender Population

ABSTRACT

The Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI; Millon, 1993) is frequently utilized in child and adolescent forensic settings to inform decisions regarding the management and treatment of troubled adolescents. However, there is little research on the psychometric properties of the MACI with juvenile offenders, and no published studies have addressed the factor structure of the Clinical, Personality, and Expressed Concerns scales with this population. The present study investigated the factorial validity of the MACI in a sample of 250 adolescent offenders. Results revealed a two-factor structure for the seven clinical scales that accounted for 66.2% of the variance. Factor I, Depressed Mood, and Factor II, Psychopathic Precursors, each consisted of three unique and substantial scale loadings. A two-factor solution was also obtained for the twelve personality scales. Factor I (Introversive, Inhibited and Doleful; 6 scales) and Factor II (Forceful, Unruly, and Dominant; 3 scales) accounted for a total of 67.8% of the total common variance. Finally, a two-factor solution was obtained for the Expressed Concerns scales. Factor I, Identity Confusion, and Factor II, Social Sensitivity, accounted for 54.4% of the total variance. Findings suggest that the MACI may provide important information that psychologists find useful in their formulation of treatment plans as well as in their assessment of the adolescents' overall amenability to treatment. Theoretical and practical implications for treatment are discussed.

Key Words:

• Millon
• juvenile offenders
• assessment
• treatment
• factor analysis
• adolescents