Confirmatory Factor Analyses of Self- and Parent- Report Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits in 8- to 10-Year-Olds

Abstract

The factorial structure of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU; Frick 2004) has been inconsistent across various studies using different rater versions and samples. In this study the factorial structure of the self- and parent-report versions of the ICU was examined in a community sample of 340 boys and girls aged 8- to 10-years. A series of confirmatory factor analyses revealed that (1) for self-report ICU, a two-factor model comprising one Uncaring and one Callousness factor fit the data best; the factorial structure was invariant across sex, although boys showed higher scores than girls on the Uncaring factor; (2) for the parent-report ICU, a three-factor structure was supported, and boys and girls did not differ on factor structure or levels of the factors. For both versions, CU traits were positively associated with the count of Oppositional Defiant Disorder/Conduct Disorder and internalizing behavior symptoms, demonstrating ICU’s good convergent albeit unsatisfactory discriminant validity. Findings suggest further refinement of this instrument for the self-report and parent versions separately.

Evaluation of the Parent‐Report Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits in a Sample of Children Recruited from Intimate Partner Violence Services: A Multidimensional Rasch Analysis

“…Therefore, our final aim was to replicate and extend previous studies’ efforts to explore convergent validity of the parent‐report version of the ICU. Consistent with previous studies such as Gao and Zhang (), Hawes et al. () and Willoughby et al.…”

“…(), and Horan et al. () found that a bifactor model with callous, unemotional, and uncaring factors had the best relative fit of the models considered in their studies; similarly, Gao and Zhang () found support for this model in a community sample of 8‐ to 10‐year‐old children.…”

“…A few recent studies have conducted confirmatory factor analyses and reported on the factor structure of the English language version of the parent‐report ICU (i.e., Gao & Zhang, ; Hawes et al., ; Henry et al., ; Horan, Brown, Jones & Aber, ; Roose, Bijttebier, Decoene, Claes, & Frick, ; Willoughby, Mills‐Koonce, Waschbusch, Gottfredson, & Family Life Project Investigators, ). Among studies examining the ICU structure in community samples of adolescents, Roose et al.…”

Social Adversity and Antisocial Behavior: Mediating Effects of Autonomic Nervous System Activity

“…Factor analyses on the current sample supported a modified ICU form with three subscales (callousness, uncaring, and unemotional) (Gao and Zhang 2016). The modified ICU Scores of individual subscales and total ICU score (sum of the three subscale scores) derived from the modified ICU were used in following analyses.…”

“…The modified ICU Scores of individual subscales and total ICU score (sum of the three subscale scores) derived from the modified ICU were used in following analyses. The modified ICU is a 19-item scale derived from the APSD to specifically assess callous-unemotional behaviors associated with antisocial personality and has demonstrated convergent validity with existing self-and parent-report measures of psychopathic behaviors (Gao and Zhang 2016). Caregivers are asked how well certain statements describe their child; e.g.…”