The Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits: Reliability, Convergent Validity, and Predictive Validity for Reoffending in Adolescents on Probation

Abstract

This prospective study assessed the reliability and validity of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) in a sample of 70 adolescent offenders. With the exception of the Unemotional subscale, ICU scores showed acceptable reliability. ICU total and Callousness scores demonstrated moderate associations with the Antisocial Process Screening Device and the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version. The ICU also demonstrated moderate predictive accuracy for violent reoffending over an 18-month follow-up period. While these findings provide some support for the ICU’s validity, more research is needed to determine if it is appropriate for use in applied settings with adolescent offenders.

Keywords:

• Adolescent
• Callous-Unemotional
• Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits
• reoffending
• violence

Notes

1 With respect to the larger study from which the current sample is drawn, data were collected at baseline, and at 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-month follow ups. The ICU was introduced midway through this larger study and administered at the 6-month follow-up. Of the 508 adolescents informed about the larger study, 163 adolescents did not meet eligibility criteria (i.e., adjudicated for an offense, living in the metropolitan area in which the study was conducted). In addition, 126 adolescents declined to participate, and 26 adolescents could not be reached. Recruitment for data collection occurred over a four-year period from 2008