Callous–unemotional traits linked to earlier onset of self-reported and official delinquency in incarcerated boys.

Abstract

Objective: Research shows that youth who engage in early delinquency have higher callous-unemotional (CU) traits than youth with a later start. This study extends prior research to determine the optimal delinquency onset age cutoff for identifying youth high versus low on CU traits and the average age of delinquency onset for youth with clinically significant CU traits. Hypotheses: We hypothesized that youth with childhood-onset delinquency would have higher CU traits than those with adolescent-onset delinquency. We hypothesized that youth with clinically significant CU traits would have an earlier delinquency onset than youth without CU traits. We explored differences in delinquency onset between antisocial youth categorized into low-anxious primary CU variant, high-anxious secondary CU variant, and low-CU/low-anxious control groups. Method: Participants were 456 adjudicated, incarcerated boys (M age = 16.24 years, SD = 1.33, range 12-19; 40.4% White, 39.7% Black, 13.8% Hispanic/Latino, 6.1% other race/ethnicity) in the United States. We measured age of delinquency onset using self-report and official records. Results: Boys who were 11 years old or younger when they first engaged in delinquency had higher CU traits than those who were 12 years old or older (η 2 p range = .009-.012), controlling for conduct problem severity and race/ethnicity. On average, boys with clinically significant CU traits first engaged in delinquency 1 year earlier (at 7.81 years old) than those without CU traits (η 2 p = .012). Low-anxious primary CU variants were 1 year younger at their first official charge (12.65 years old) than controls (η 2 p = .026). There were no statistically significant differences between low-anxious primary and high-anxious secondary CU variants. Conclusions: Elevated CU traits were over-represented among boys who were youngest at their first legal contact, suggesting that this may be an opportune time to identify this subgroup of youth to provide nuanced intervention to prevent later serious delinquency and criminal justice involvement. Public Significance StatementAntisocial youth with callous-unemotional traits begin engaging in arrestable behaviors at 7 years old, on average, and are likely over-represented among the youngest youth who come into contact with juvenile courts. This first point of contact with the justice system represents an opportune time to engage youth in tailored, intensive, multimodal, and evidence-based (TIMEly) interventions that target the unique risk factors involved in their developmental pathway to chronic criminality.

Clinical utility of diagnosing limited prosocial emotions in young children using the Clinical Assessment of Prosocial Emotions (CAPE).

“…Two prior published studies have evaluated the validity of CAPE LPE diagnoses (Centifanti et al, 2020; Hawes et al, 2020) among children below 8 years old, which is the critical age period for early intervention (Neo & Kimonis, 2021). The one other study of the CAPE was with 72 incarcerated adolescent boys ( M age = 17.74 years, SD = 1.20, range = 14–22; Molinuevo et al, 2020).…”

“…The presence of callous-unemotional (CU) traits identifies a subgroup of antisocial children with unique cognitive and socioemotional deficits that are thought to explain their severe and aggressive conduct problems (see Frick et al, 2014). Relative to justice-involved youths without elevated CU traits, those with elevated CU traits have an earlier onset to their delinquency, at 7 years old on average (Neo & Kimonis, 2021), thus suggesting a critical need to prioritize the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of children with conduct problems and CU traits before their early elementary school years.…”

Treatment of childhood disruptive behavior disorders and callous‐unemotional traits: a systematic review and two multilevel meta‐analyses

“…The CU traits construct represents a downward developmental extension of the affective facet of psychopathy (e.g., lack of empathy, shallow affect) (Frick, Ray, Thornton, & Kahn, 2014; Waller et al, 2020). CU traits predict risk of violence, psychopathy, and arrest, even when accounting for DBD severity (Hawes, Byrd, Waller, Lynam, & Pardini, 2017; McMahon, Witkiewitz, & Kotler, 2010; Neo & Kimonis, 2021). DBD with CU traits (DBD+CU) is more heritable than DBD without CU traits (DBD‐only) (Moore, Blair, Hettema, & Roberson‐Nay, 2019), and is associated with distinct neurobiological and behavioral characteristics, including reduced responsivity to distress, fear, and laughter expressed by others (De Brito et al, 2021; Viding & McCrory, 2019).…”

Promoting Empathy and Affiliation in Relationships (PEAR) study: protocol for a longitudinal study investigating the development of early childhood callous-unemotional traits

“…Around 10%–50% of children with DBD have callous-unemotional (CU) traits (DBD+CU), defined by callousness, uncaring and remorselessness 5 6. CU traits predict risk of violence, psychopathy and arrest, even accounting for DBD severity 7–9. DBD+CU is more heritable than DBD without CU traits (DBD-only)10 and associated with distinct neural and behavioural correlates 11 12.…”