Pre-existing Chronic Health Conditions and Health Insurance Status as Determinants of Vaccine Receipt Among Adolescents in Richmond County, Georgia

Abstract

This study tested three different models of personality to identify individual differences in aggressive and antisocial youth, namely the social and personality, pathological personality, and psychological dysregulation models. Methods: A total of 121 boys (ages 12 to 18; M age 1⁄4 15.31; SD 1⁄4 1.16) recruited across 3 detention centers in the state of Louisiana completed a questionnaire that asked about their personality, aggressive behaviors, and delinquent activities. Chart review data was collected for age, ethnicity, and arrest history. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test for unique variance for each of the personality approaches. Results: The three personality models demonstrated unique associations with aggression and delinquency. Psychological dysregulation, composed of behavioral dysregulation, emotional dysregulation, and cognitive dysregulation, was the best overall predictor of overt aggression (R2 1⁄4 .17, p < .001), relational aggression (R21⁄4 .10, p< .05), and delinquency (R21⁄4 .15, p< .001). After controlling for the Big Five personality traits, psychological dysregulation accounted for significant variance in overt aggression (?R21⁄4 .13, p< .001) and delinquency (?R21⁄4 .11, p< .05). After controlling for callous-unemotional traits and narcissistic traits, psychological dysregulation accounted for significant variance in overt aggression (?R2s 1⁄4 .12 and .14, ps < .001), relational aggression (?R2s 1⁄4 .07 and .09, ps < .05), and delinquency (?R2s 1⁄4.15 and .15, ps < .001). The pathological personality traits, comprised of callous-unemotional traits, narcissistic traits, and borderline traits performed second best. Specifically, borderline traits accounted for significant variance in overt aggression (?R2 1⁄4 .11, p < .001), relational aggression (?R2 1⁄4 .03, p < .05), and delinquency (?R2 1⁄4 .05, p < .01) after controlling for the Big Five traits. Narcissistic traits accounted for significant variance in overt aggression (?R2 1⁄4 .04, p < .05) and relational aggression (?R2 1⁄4 .03, p < .05) after controlling for the Big Five personality traits. CU traits accounted for significant variance in overt aggression (?R2 1⁄4 .04, p < .05) after controlling for the Big Five personality traits. The social and personality model, represented by the Big Five personality traits only accounted for significant variance in relational aggression (?R2 1⁄4 .09, p < .05) after controlling for narcissistic traits. Conclusions: Regardless of specific personality traits or types, results highlight the importance of assessing the behavioral, emotional, and cognitive regulatory abilities of detained youth when attempting to understand the underlying factors of aggressive and antisocial behavior. The information may aid in elucidating different pathways to aggressive and antisocial behaviors, and help in the formulation individualized treatment plans. Sources of Support: Psi Chi Faculty Advisor Research Grant.