Utilization of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-2 (MAYSI-2) with a Southern, African American Adolescent Male Population

Abstract

The Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-2 (MAYSI-2) is a widely accepted instrument for screening adolescents in detention facilities for mental health problems. However, African Americans often experience mental illness differently from other racial groups. The purpose of this study is to examine the usefulness of the MAYSI-2 with Southern African American adolescents. Results indicate that the MAYSI-2 factor structure as originally conceived does not accurately represent mental illness as experienced by this group. Instead, findings suggest that African American adolescents do indeed experience mental illness in a way different from youth for whom the MAYSI-2 was designed. Furthermore, the MAYS-2’s ability to detect psychotic illness in this group is called into question by these findings.

Latent Profiles of Responding on the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-2 Subscale Scores by Race/Ethnicity among Juvenile Justice-Involved Boys and Girls

“…Previous research suggests that Hispanic youth are more likely than White youth to interpret and report mood symptoms (e.g., depression & anxiety) as physical complaints (Grames, 2006; Scarella et al, 2019); albeit, in the current study there was no evidence of a trend toward higher endorsement of SC among youth identifying as Hispanic. Relatedly, other investigators using the MAYSI-2 have suggested that detained Black and White youth may perceive mental illness differently such that Black youth may perceive fewer distinct differences between behavioral and emotional symptoms (Jaggers et al, 2013). Accordingly, research continues to need to examine the role of potential ethnic/racial differences that might impact youths’ engagement with screening questionnaires such as the MAYSI-2.…”