Latent Profile Analyses of Offense and Personality Characteristics in a Sample of Incarcerated Female Sexual Offenders

Abstract

This study examines characteristics of 90 female sexual offenders based on offense and personality traits. The study uses latent profile analysis to identify groups of female sex offenders who are similar to one another and different from participants in other groups. Results using the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) indicate that there were three classes of offenders that differed with respect to the severity of their psychopathology. Upon analysis of predictors such as demographic information, offense characteristics, selected Trauma Symptom Inventory scores, Static-99 scores, abuse history, and PAI supplemental scales, several factors predicted group membership. These included marital status, sexual abuse in adulthood, and interpersonal relationship styles. Implications for assessment and treatment of female sex offenders are discussed.

Psychopathology of Sex Offenders

“…The third female sex offender type identified by Turner et al (2008) was termed the Extensive Psychopathology type. This group had few members but was identified as being substantially different from the rest of the women in the sample.…”

“…Although the authors encouraged interpreting results with caution as the second analysis of the study included only 79 female sex offenders, the findings provided possible implications for the treatment of this population (Turner et al, 2008). For example, results of the study suggest that a large portion of female sex offenders warrant treatment that addresses substance abuse and previous victimization.…”

“…This study examined personality profiles of incarcerated male and female sex offenders by utilizing Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to categorize offenders based on their responses on the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). Building on previous research (see Turner, Miller, Henderson, 2008), the current sample of male and female sex offenders is best described using a 4-class model: Moderate Defensiveness, Elevated Alcohol and Drug Use, Moderate Psychopathology, and Elevated Psychopathology. Analyzing covariates and group membership, results indicated that male sex offenders were more likely to be included in the Elevated Drug and Alcohol group, whereas the female sex offenders were more likely to be included in the Moderate or Elevated Psychopathology group.…”

Mujeres delincuentes violentas

“…La victimización sexual puede afectar hasta al 80% (Turner, Miller y Henderson, 2008). Estas experiencias influyen mediante la susceptibilidad al desarrollo de problemas de salud mental, la exposición a modelos relacionales y roles de cuidadores deficientes (cuando el abuso es del entorno cercano) o el desarrollo de guiones o expectativas sobre roles sexuales inadecuados (Logan, 2008).…”

“…De hecho, son la principal diferencia entre las delincuentes sexuales y las de otro tipo (Strickland, 2008). Su presencia es tan prevalente que se recomienda su atención en los tratamientos (Turner et al, 2008). Junto a los abusos en la infancia, es más típico de las mujeres la presencia de algún compañero de agresión varón, por dependencia o por coerción (Cortoni y Gannon, 2011;Ford, 2010;Muskens, Bogaerts, van Casteren y Labrijn, 2011;Vandiver, 2006).…”