Problem profiles of at-risk youth in two service programs: A multigroup exploratory latent class analysis Article

Dembo, R, Briones-Robinson, R, Ungaro, RA et al. (2011). Problem profiles of at-risk youth in two service programs: A multigroup exploratory latent class analysis . CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BEHAVIOR, 38(10), 988-1008. 10.1177/0093854811416057

cited authors

  • Dembo, R; Briones-Robinson, R; Ungaro, RA; Karas, L; Gulledge, LM; Greenbaum, PE; Schmeidler, J; Winters, KC; Belenko, S

authors

abstract

  • Baseline data collected in two brief intervention projects (BI-Court and Truancy Project) were used to assess similarities and differences in subgroups of at-risk youth. Classifications of these subgroups were based on their psychosocial characteristics (e.g., substance use). Multigroup latent class analysis identified two BI-Court subgroups of youth and three truant subgroups. These classes can be viewed as differing along two dimensions, substance use involvement and emotional and behavioral issues. Equality tests of means across the latent classes for BI-Court and Truancy Project youths found significant differences that were consistent with their problem group classification. These findings highlight the importance of quality assessments and allocating appropriate services on the basis of problem profiles of at-risk youth. © 2011 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology.

publication date

  • October 1, 2011

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 988

end page

  • 1008

volume

  • 38

issue

  • 10