Examining hypothesized interactive and curvilinear relations between psychopathic traits and externalizing problems in an offender sample using item response-based analysis

Fearless Dominance (FD) generally manifests null to small relations with externalizing problems, leading some researchers to propose alternative paths by which FD features may relate to these problems. The current study provides a test of two possibilities, namely that FD (a) interacts statistically with Self-centered Impulsivity (SCI) such that FD is associated with externalizing problems only at high levels of SCI; and (b) demonstrates curvilinear relations with externalizing problems such that FD is more strongly associated with these problems at high levels. We used a large correctional sample and item-response theory-related statistics to precisely estimate individuals’ scores at the extremes of each major psychopathic trait. FD was not significantly associated with externalizing problems in interaction with SCI or at higher levels of FD, suggesting that psychopathic traits linked to boldness are not especially relevant to generalized externalizing behavior.

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Examining hypothesized curvilinear and interactive relations between psychopathic traits and externalizing problems in an offender sample using item response-based analysis

10.31234/osf.io/tqdrp ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Brandon Weiss ◽

Michael L Crowe ◽

NATHAN T CARTER ◽

Donald Lynam ◽

Ashley L. Watts ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Item Response Theory ◽

Item Response ◽

Externalizing Problems ◽

Psychopathic Traits ◽

Psychopathic Trait ◽

Response Theory ◽

Negatively Associated

Fearless Dominance (FD) generally manifests null to small relations with externalizing problems, leading some researchers to propose alternative paths by which FD may relate to these problems. The current study provides a test of two possibilities, namely that FD (a) demonstrates curvilinear relations with externalizing problems such that it is associated with these problems only at high levels; and (b) interacts statistically with other features of psychopathy such that FD is associated with externalizing problems at high levels of other psychopathic traits. We used a large correctional sample and item-response theory-related statistics to precisely estimate individuals’ scores at the extremes of each major psychopathic trait. FD traits were not significantly associated with externalizing problems at higher levels of FD traits or in interaction with other psychopathic traits. In those few cases in which FD traits displayed curvilinear relations, they were negatively associated with externalizing problems at higher levels.

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Improving screening for externalizing behavior problems in very young children : applications of item response theory to evaluate instruments in pediatric primary care.

10.18297/etd/1398 ◽

2008 ◽

Author(s):

Christina Studts

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Item Response Theory ◽

Young Children ◽

Behavior Problems ◽

Item Response ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Externalizing Behavior Problems ◽

Pediatric Primary Care ◽

Response Theory ◽

Very Young Children

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Psychotic-like experiences in a community sample of 8000 children aged 9 to 11 years: an item response theory analysis

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291711002108 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 42 (7) ◽

pp. 1495-1506 ◽

Cited By ~ 92

Author(s):

K. R. Laurens ◽

M. J. Hobbs ◽

M. Sunderland ◽

M. J. Green ◽

G. L. Mould

Keyword(s):

Item Response Theory ◽

Item Response ◽

Externalizing Problems ◽

Community Sample ◽

Full Range ◽

Self Report ◽

Response Theory ◽

Internalizing And Externalizing Problems ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Internalizing And Externalizing

BackgroundPsychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in the general population are common, particularly in childhood, and may constitute part of a spectrum of normative development. Nevertheless, these experiences confer increased risk for later psychotic disorder, and are associated with poorer health and quality of life.MethodThis study used factor analytic methods to determine the latent structure underlying PLEs, problem behaviours and personal competencies in the general child population, and used item response theory (IRT) to assess the psychometric properties of nine PLE items to determine which items best represented a latent psychotic-like construct (PSY). A total of 7966 children aged 9–11 years, constituting 95% of eligible children, completed self-report questionnaires.ResultsAlmost two-thirds of the children endorsed at least one PLE item. Structural analyses identified a unidimensional construct representing psychotic-like severity in the population, the full range of which was well sampled by the nine items. This construct was discriminable from (though correlated with) latent dimensions representing internalizing and externalizing problems. Items assessing visual and auditory hallucination-like experiences provided the most information about PSY; delusion-like experiences identified children at more severe levels of the construct.ConclusionsAssessing PLEs during middle childhood is feasible and supplements information concerning internalizing and externalizing problems presented by children. The hallucination-like experiences constitute appropriate items to screen the population to identify children who may require further clinical assessment or monitoring. Longitudinal follow-up of the children is required to determine sensitivity and specificity of the PLE items for later psychotic illness.

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