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Abstract
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AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT:
The current study sought to increase the body of knowledge regarding the mental health needs of male and female violent incarcerated adolescents by examining differences in psychopathology and personality style. Participants were 45 female and 44 male adolescents incarcerated for violent offenses in the state of Virginia's juvenile correctional system who were matched on age, race, and offense. Each participant completed a Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI; Millon, 1993). Using raw scores on the MACI Clinical Syndrome scales, a single discriminant function was derived with a significant Wilks' Lambda of.670, p<.001 and a correct classification rate of 75.3%. The Eating Dysfunction, Depressive Affect, and Suicidal Tendency scales were particularly useful in discriminating between male and female participants with females scoring higher on all three scales. Using raw scores on the MACI Personality Pattern scales, a single discriminant function was derived with a significant Wilks' Lambda of.792, p=.002 and a correct classification rate of 72.9%. The Borderline Tendency and Dramatizing scales were particularly useful in discriminating between male and female participants with females scoring higher on the former and males scoring higher on the latter. Non-significant results were obtained when discriminant function analyses were conducted on male and female substance abusers and on males and females reporting depression. Significantly more female than male participants scored at clinically interpretable levels on the MACI Eating Dysfunction (/chi/sp2=9.832,/ p<.01) and Depressive Affect (/chi/sp2=7.453,/ p<.01) scales. There were no significant gender differences for frequency of clinically interpretable levels on any of the MACI Personality Pattern scales. All participants self-reported at least one clinically interpretable Personality Pattern, and 93% reported three or more clinically interpretable Personality Patterns. The results suggest that both male and female violent incarcerated adolescents are a very disturbed population in need of intensive mental health treatment. Both males and females need treatment for delinquency, impulsivity, substance abuse, and personality disturbance. Gender differences found in the types of psychopathology exhibited suggest that girls are more likely to also need treatment for eating disorders and depression. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, 1998. Copyright © 1998 by Eva Marie Ash; University Microfilms International)
Gender Differences
Male Inmate
Male Offender
Male Violence
Female Offender
Female Inmate
Female Violence
Juvenile Violence
Juvenile Offender
Juvenile Male
Juvenile Inmate
Juvenile Female
Psychopathology
Virginia
Incarcerated
Offender Personality
Offender Characteristics
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