Applicability of MEGA♪ to Sexually Abusive Youth With Low Intellectual Functioning

Abstract

The study explored the predictive validity of Multiplex Empirically Guided Inventory of Ecological Aggregates for Assessing Sexually Abusive Children and Adolescents (Ages 4 to 19) (MEGA♪;Miccio-Fonseca, 2006b), a comprehensive developmentally sensitive risk assessment outcome tool. MEGA♪ assesses risk for coarse sexual improprieties and/or sexually abusive behavior in male and female youth ages 4 to 19 years (adjudicated and nonadjudicated), including youth with low (i.e., borderline) intellectual functioning. MEGA♪ has 4 distinct risk scales with robust internal consistency reliability on cross-validation: Risk Scale (0.81), Protective Scale (0.78), Estrangement Scale (0.79), and Persistent Sexual Deviancy Scale (0.74). Sexual recidivism in cross-validation (N = 1,056) was 8.4%, defined as sexually related probation or parole violation (formal or informal). ROC analysis for Risk Scale demonstrated MEGA♪ has good predictive validity (AUC = .71, 95% CI of .62–.80, p < .001). Youth with low intellectual functioning scored significantly higher on the Risk Scale and Persistent Sexual Deviancy Scale, highlighting the importance of accurately assessing these youth.