Table 1.
Comparisons between a nationwide sample of girls charged with violent offences and referred to a pretrial forensic psychiatric examination (n = 25) and their age- and offence-matched male counterparts
| Girls | Boys | Statisticsa | p | Effect size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCL-YV | |||||
| Total score mean (SD) | 19.76 (8.52) | 20.32 (6.50) | t = −0.261 | 0.795 | d = −0.073 |
| Factor 1 (interpersonal) | 1.56 (2.18) | 1.68 (1.86) | t = −0.209 | 0.835 | d = −0.060 |
| Factor 2 (affective) | 4.44 (2.38) | 3.24 (2.33) | t = 1.793 | 0.079 | d = 0.518 |
| Factor 3 (behavioral) | 6.44 (2.83) | 7.64 (1.87) | t = −1.770 | 0.083 | d = 0.511 |
| Factor 4 (antisocial) | 5.52 (2.62) | 6.88 (1.74) | t = −2.164 | 0.035 | d = 0.624 |
| Total score > 30 | 3/25 (12.0 %) | 3/25 (12.0 %) | # | 1.000 | NA |
| Total score > 25 | 8/25 (32.0 %) | 7/25 (28.0 %) | X2 = 0.095 | 0.758 | φ = −0.044 |
| Total score > 20 | 16/25 (64.0 %) | 14/25 (56.0 %) | X2 = 0.333 | 0.564 | φ = −0.082 |
| Item mean (SD) | |||||
| Impression management | 0.44 (0.58) | 0.48 (0.51) | t = −0.209 | 0.795 | d = 0.060 |
| Grandiose sense of self-worth | 0.32 (0.56) | 0.40 (0.65) | t = 0.469 | 0.641 | d = 0.135 |
| Stimulation-seeking | 1.44 (0.71) | 1.92 (0.28) | t = −3.142 | 0.003 | d = 0.907 |
| Pathological lying | 0.32 (0.69) | 0.40 (0.76) | t = −0.389 | 0.699 | d = 0.113 |
| Manipulation for personal gain | 0.52 (0.77) | 0.36 (0.70) | t = 0.769 | 0.446 | d = 0.222 |
| Lack of remorse/guilt | 1.32 (0.75) | 0.92 (0.76) | t = 1.876 | 0.067 | d = 0.542 |
| Shallow affect | 0.88 (0.83) | 0.72 (0.69) | t = 0.745 | 0.460 | d = 0.215 |
| Callous/lack of empathy | 1.00 (0.71) | 0.72 (0.61) | t = 1.495 | 0.141 | d = 0.432 |
| Parasitic orientation | 0.64 (0.76) | 0.84 (0.80) | t = −0.908 | 0.368 | d = 0.262 |
| Poor anger control | 1.36 (0.70) | 1.84 (0.37) | t = −3.024 | 0.004 | d = 0.873 |
| Impersonal sexual behavior | 0.80 (0.96) | 0.36 (0.64) | t = 1.912 | 0.062 | d = 0.552 |
| Early problem behavior | 1.20 (0.91) | 1.68 (0.56) | t = −2.245 | 0.039 | d = 0.648 |
| Lack of goals | 1.52 (0.71) | 1.40 (0.76) | t = 0.574 | 0.569 | d = 0.166 |
| Impulsivity | 1.56 (0.71) | 1.92 (0.28) | t = −2.357 | 0.023 | d = 0.680 |
| Irresponsibility | 1.28 (0.69) | 1.64 (0.57) | t = −2.034 | 0.048 | d = 0.587 |
| Failure to accept responsibility | 1.24 (0.60) | 0.88 (0.73) | t = 1.915 | 0.061 | d = 0.553 |
| Unstable interpersonal relationships | 1.00 (0.96) | 0.28 (0.61) | t = 3.166 | 0.003 | d = 0.914 |
| Serious criminal behavior | 1.48 (0.51) | 1.60 (0.50) | t = −0.840 | 0.405 | d = 0.242 |
| Serious violation of conditional release | 0.48 (0.65) | 0.32 (0.48) | t = 0.990 | 0.327 | d = 0.286 |
| Criminal versatility | 1.00 (0.82) | 1.48 (0.71) | t = −2.213 | 0.032 | d = 0.639 |
| Background variables | |||||
| Childhood (0–12 years) home | |||||
| Parents’ divorce | 16/25 (64.0 %) | 17/24 (70.8 %) | X2 = 0.260 | 0.610 | φ = 0.073 |
| Mother’s substance use problems | 10/25 (40.0 %) | 5/25 (20.0 %) | # | 0.217 | NA |
| Father’s substance use problems | 14/24 (58.3 %) | 17/24 (70.8 %) | X2 = 0.820 | 0.365 | φ = 0.131 |
| Mother’s psychiatric problems | 5/25 (20.0 %) | 8/25 (32.0 %) | # | 0.520 | NA |
| Father’s psychiatric problems | 3/24 (12.5 %) | 6/24 (25.0 %) | # | 0.461 | NA |
| Witnessing physical violence | 13/25 (52.0 %) | 12/25 (48.0 %) | X2 = 0.080 | 0.777 | φ = −0.400 |
| Subject of physical violence | 15/25 (60.0 %) | 9/25 (36.0 %) | X2 = 2.885 | 0.089 | φ = −0.240 |
| More than four children in the family | 11/25 (44.0 %) | 9/25 (36.0 %) | X2 = 0.333 | 0.564 | φ = −0.082 |
| Institutional/foster home placement | 7/25 (28.0 %) | 10/25 (40.0 %) | X2 = 0.802 | 0.370 | φ = 0.127 |
| Other childhood (0–12 years) variables | |||||
| Subject of sexual abuse | 9/25 (36.0 %) | 0/25 (0.0 %) | # | 0.001 | NA |
| Mental health contact | 8/25 (32.0 %) | 9/25 (36.0 %) | X2 = 0.089 | 0.765 | φ = 0.042 |
| Client of social services | 15/25 (60.0 %) | 18/25 (72.0 %) | X2 = 0.802 | 0.370 | φ = 0.127 |
| Criminality of near relatives | |||||
| Mother’s criminality | 1/25 (4.0 %) | 0/25 (0.0 %) | # | 1.000 | NA |
| Father’s criminality | 7/24 (28.0 %) | 8/24 (32.0 %) | X2 = 0.097 | 0.755 | φ = 0.045 |
| Delinquent sibling/s | 8/25 (32.0 %) | 10/25 (40.0 %) | X2 = 0.347 | 0.556 | φ = 0.083 |
| Homicide history of parents or near relatives | 5/25 (20.0 %) | 2/25 (8.0 %) | # | 0.417 | NA |
| School performance in primary and secondary schools | |||||
| Failure to pass grade at school | 14/25 (56.0 %) | 14/25 (56.0 %) | X2 = 0.082 | 0.774 | φ = −0.041 |
| Attending special education | 11/25 (44.0 %) | 14/25 (56.0 %) | X2 = 0.720 | 0.396 | φ = 0.120 |
| Offence-related variables | |||||
| History of previous offending | 19/25 (76.0 %) | 21/25 (84.0 %) | X2 = 0.500 | 0.480 | φ = 0.100 |
| History of violent offending | 8/25 (32.0 %) | 12/25 (48.0 %) | X2 = 1.333 | 0.246 | φ = 0.163 |
| Current alcohol use disorder | 15/25 (60.0 %) | 15/25 (60.0 %) | X2 = 0.000 | 1.000 | φ = 0.000 |
| Intoxicated during index offence | 15/25 (60.0 %) | 22/25 (88.0 %) | X2 = 5.094 | 0.024 | φ = 0.319 |
| More than one offender | 15/25 (60.0 %) | 10/25 (40.0 %) | X2 = 2.000 | 0.157 | φ = −0.200 |
| More than one victim | 3/25 (12.0 %) | 5/24 (20.8 %) | # | 0.463 | NA |
| Victim-offender relationship | |||||
| Family or (ex-) intimate | 9/24 (37.5 %) | 0/24 (0.0 %) | # | 0.001 | NA |
| Acquaintance | 11/24 (45.8 %) | 5/24 (20.8 %) | # | 0.062 | NA |
| Stranger | 4/24 (16.7 %) | 19/24 (79.2 %) | # | <0.001 | NA |
| Index offence characterized with instrumental violence | 7/25 (28 %) | 9/25 (36 %) | X2 = 0.368 | 0.544 | φ = 0.086 |
Independent samples t test (t), the Chi square test (χ2), and the Fisher’s exact test (#) are used for comparing the groups. Effect sizes are reported: d Cohen’s d, φ = phi
Statistically significant differences are in italics
NA not applicable