Psychological and behavioral adjustment in female youths with high or low psychopathic traits

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.     

论家庭教育对青少年犯罪的影响

当前青少年犯罪已成为一个突出的社会问题,犯罪率居高不下。家庭是青少年生活的基本环境,它在青少年身心健康、品德形成等方面起着重要作用。大量事实表明,不良的家庭环境和不当的家庭教育方法是青少年犯罪的重要原因。因此,有效预防和控制青少年犯罪,必须提高家长素质,关注青少年心理健康,营造和谐家庭环境,注重家庭教育方法,抓住家庭教育这一关键环节。