The Adolescent Problems Inventory: A profile of incarcerated English male young offenders

The Adolescent Problem Inventory (API) is a measure of social problem-solving that reliably distinguishes delinquent and non-delinquent young men. The current study examined the utility of the API specifically with a sample of 520 serious, incarcerated, young male offenders. The API, previously modified for use in the UK, showed good psychometric properties, including internal consistency and test–retest reliability. The similarity of scores for this sample compared to the original American sample (Freedman, Rosenthal, Donahoe, Schlundt, & McFall, 1978) suggests that the modified API is suitable for use with male UK delinquents. A factor analysis revealed four factors within the API, suggesting sub-types of situation that pose different demands. While not differing significantly on their overall patterns of scores on the full API, a discriminate function analysis indicated two factors that predicted acquisitive and aggressive offender groups. The implications of the findings for the conduct of interventions are discussed.