IDENTIFYING AND VALIDATING PROFILES OF BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONING IN PREADOLESCENT YOUTH FROM A LOW-INCOME, URBAN COMMUNITY

Abstract

There is a particularly robust relation between neighborhood disadvantage and youth conduct problems. Given conduct problems are heterogeneous, it is likely that distinct subgroups of youth who differ in conduct problems and related correlates may be identifiable. The present study identified profiles of youth from a low-income, urban community participating in the Coping Power Program. Profiles were characterized by teacher-reported psychosocial and behavioral functioning assessed at pre-intervention among a sample of 61 fourth-grade students (98% Black/African American; M age = 9.87 ± 0.50; 58.3% female). Auxiliary analyses investigated whether and how these profiles differ on concurrent child-reported conduct problems and contextual (i.e., neighborhood, peer) factors and whether profile membership was associated with post-intervention teacher-reported outcomes. Latent profile analysis identified four profiles: (1) Moderate Conduct Problems (Mod CP; n = 6); (2) Moderate Conduct Problems/Callous-Unemotional Behavior with Moderate Peer Victimization (Mod CP/CU+Mod PV; n = 9); (3) High Conduct Problems/Callous-Unemotional Behavior with Low Prosocial Behavior (High CP/CU+Low Pro; n = 7); and Typically Developing (TD; n = 37). Profiles differed on child-reported outcome expectations for aggressive behavior, such that Mod CP/CU+Mod PV and High CP/CU+Low Pro were more likely to expect aggression to reduce aversive treatment from others. The High CP/CU+Low Pro profile had the most consistent post-intervention improvement across outcomes, though profile responsiveness to the intervention was variable and differed based on how outcomes were operationalized. Findings inform identification of youth from low-income, urban communities who may be at risk for negative outcomes and/or more amenable to preventive interventions for conduct problems.