Abstract
Objective: Criminological research consistently demonstrates that approximately 5% of study populations are comprised of pathological offenders who account for a preponderance of antisocial behavior and violent crime. Unfortunately, there have been no nationally representative epidemiological studies characterizing the severe 5% group. Materials and Methods: Data from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a nationally representative sample of 43,093 non-institutionalized U.S. residents aged 18. years and older were analyzed using latent class analysis to assess sociodemographic, psychiatric, and behavioral characteristics. Results: Four-classes of respondents were identified vis-à-vis lifetime externalizing behaviors. A normative class (66.1% of respondents) demonstrated little involvement in antisocial conduct. A low substance use/high antisocial behavior class (20.7% of respondents) and high substance use/moderate antisocial behavior (8.0% of respondents) class evinced diverse externalizing and psychiatric symptoms. Finally, a severe class (5.3% of respondents) was characterized by pathological involvement in more varied and intensive forms of antisocial and externalizing behaviors and extensive psychiatric disturbance. Conclusions: The current study is the first nationally representative epidemiological study of criminal careers/externalizing behavior spectrum in the United States and validates the existence of the 5% pathological group demonstrated by prior research.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 75-80 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Criminal Justice |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 Jan 1 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Social Psychology
- Applied Psychology
- Sociology and Political Science
- Law
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The Severe 5% : A Latent Class Analysis of the Externalizing Behavior Spectrum in the United States. / Vaughn, Michael G.; DeLisi, Matt; Gunter, Tracy; Fu, Qiang; Beaver, Kevin M.; Perron, Brian E.; Howard, Matthew O.
In: Journal of Criminal Justice, Vol. 39, No. 1, 01.01.2011, p. 75-80.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - The Severe 5%
T2 - A Latent Class Analysis of the Externalizing Behavior Spectrum in the United States
AU - Vaughn, Michael G.
AU - DeLisi, Matt
AU - Gunter, Tracy
AU - Fu, Qiang
AU - Beaver, Kevin M.
AU - Perron, Brian E.
AU - Howard, Matthew O.
PY - 2011/1/1
Y1 - 2011/1/1
N2 - Objective: Criminological research consistently demonstrates that approximately 5% of study populations are comprised of pathological offenders who account for a preponderance of antisocial behavior and violent crime. Unfortunately, there have been no nationally representative epidemiological studies characterizing the severe 5% group. Materials and Methods: Data from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a nationally representative sample of 43,093 non-institutionalized U.S. residents aged 18. years and older were analyzed using latent class analysis to assess sociodemographic, psychiatric, and behavioral characteristics. Results: Four-classes of respondents were identified vis-à-vis lifetime externalizing behaviors. A normative class (66.1% of respondents) demonstrated little involvement in antisocial conduct. A low substance use/high antisocial behavior class (20.7% of respondents) and high substance use/moderate antisocial behavior (8.0% of respondents) class evinced diverse externalizing and psychiatric symptoms. Finally, a severe class (5.3% of respondents) was characterized by pathological involvement in more varied and intensive forms of antisocial and externalizing behaviors and extensive psychiatric disturbance. Conclusions: The current study is the first nationally representative epidemiological study of criminal careers/externalizing behavior spectrum in the United States and validates the existence of the 5% pathological group demonstrated by prior research.
AB - Objective: Criminological research consistently demonstrates that approximately 5% of study populations are comprised of pathological offenders who account for a preponderance of antisocial behavior and violent crime. Unfortunately, there have been no nationally representative epidemiological studies characterizing the severe 5% group. Materials and Methods: Data from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a nationally representative sample of 43,093 non-institutionalized U.S. residents aged 18. years and older were analyzed using latent class analysis to assess sociodemographic, psychiatric, and behavioral characteristics. Results: Four-classes of respondents were identified vis-à-vis lifetime externalizing behaviors. A normative class (66.1% of respondents) demonstrated little involvement in antisocial conduct. A low substance use/high antisocial behavior class (20.7% of respondents) and high substance use/moderate antisocial behavior (8.0% of respondents) class evinced diverse externalizing and psychiatric symptoms. Finally, a severe class (5.3% of respondents) was characterized by pathological involvement in more varied and intensive forms of antisocial and externalizing behaviors and extensive psychiatric disturbance. Conclusions: The current study is the first nationally representative epidemiological study of criminal careers/externalizing behavior spectrum in the United States and validates the existence of the 5% pathological group demonstrated by prior research.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79251606901&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2010.12.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2010.12.001
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79251606901
VL - 39
SP - 75
EP - 80
JO - Journal of Criminal Justice
JF - Journal of Criminal Justice
SN - 0047-2352
IS - 1
ER -