Severity and Frequency of Antisocial Behaviors: Late Adolescence/Young Adulthood Antisocial Behavior Index.
Cristiane S Duarte, Jaimie Klotz, Katherine Elkington, Patrick E Shrout, Glorisa Canino, Ruth Eisenberg, Ana Ortin, Marjorine Henriquez-Castillo, Thomas Corbeil, Hector Bird
Author Information
Cristiane S Duarte: New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit# 43, New York, NY, USA.
Jaimie Klotz: New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY.
Katherine Elkington: Columbia University, New York, NY.
Patrick E Shrout: New York University, New York, NY.
Glorisa Canino: University of Puerto Rico Medical Campus, San Juan, PR.
Ruth Eisenberg: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY.
Ana Ortin: City University of New York - Hunter College, New York, NY.
Marjorine Henriquez-Castillo: New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY.
Thomas Corbeil: New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY.
OBJECTIVES: An Antisocial Behavior index (ASB-I) for children (ages 5 to 15) was previously developed by obtaining clinician ratings of the seriousness or severity of various behaviors with the goal of improving assessment of antisocial behaviors (ASB) longitudinally. We extend the instrument for use in late adolescence/young adulthood, as socially unacceptable conduct manifests differently across developmental stages. As in the original study, this extension (the ASB-I YA) is based on independent ratings of ASB seriousness/severity during late adolescence/young adulthood (16 to 28 years) made by nine experienced clinicians. METHODS: The items rated were drawn from the Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder schedules of the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC-IV) and the Elliott Delinquency scales, plus new or modified items developmentally appropriate for late adolescence/young adulthood. Specific ratings were based on the developmental stage and reported frequency of the behaviors. The study also describes the distribution of ASB-I YA scores in the Boricua Youth Study. RESULTS: Reliability was substantial for the average ratings of each subscale and for the total score [ICC(3,9): .88 to .95]. Certain items were rated as more severe when occurring in late adolescence/young adulthood compared to childhood/early adolescence (e.g., hitting someone on purpose); however, most ratings were similar across developmental periods. Most importantly, raters reliably and consistently rated the items describing ASB in young adulthood, allowing the computation of the ASB-I YA score. CONCLUSIONS: Together with the ASB-I, the ASB-I YA can further advance the study of ASB progression from childhood into young adulthood.
