Cluster-Derived Groupings of the Behavior Assessment System for Children Among Male Juvenile Offenders

Abstract

Examined the cluster-derived typologies of males in a juvenile offender sample. Adolescent males, age 12-17, in a regional youth detention center were given the Behavior Assessment System for Children-Self Report-Adolescent (BASC-SRP-A; C. Reynolds &R. Kamphaus, 1992) and the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI; T. Millon, 1993). Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to determine cluster membership across the scales of the BASC-SRP-A, and these clusters were compared to cluster groupings across the scales of the MACI. Clusters were then compared to the severity of youth offense history. A five-cluster solution was developed with only one cluster suggesting severe problem behaviors. However, all of the BASC-SRP-A clusters seemed to endorse more symptomatic problem behaviors on the MACI. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed, including the under-reporting or over-reporting of different instruments in certain populations.