A multidimensional analysis contrasting youthful nonoffenders, sex offenders, violent offenders, and status offenders.

This study involved a comparison of 75 adolescent participants divided into four groups. Members of three of the groups were adjudicated delinquent: sex offenders, violent (nonsexual) offenders, and status offenders. A group of nonffenders was also used as a control group. The groups were compared using a contrast analysis of four dependent variables: self-concept, sexual history, cognitive distortions, and alexithymia. Findings of this study reveal a significant relationship with the presence of alexithymia among the offending sample when compared to the nonoffenders. Also evident is a greater self-concept score among the nonoffenders when contrasted with the offenders. Another significant comparison was discovered with variations in sexual behavior, both normal and deviant. It would appear that the violent offenders are significantly more sexually active and the sexual offenders engage in significantly more deviant sexual practices. The findings of this study would appear to be of interest to professionals involved in both the assessment and treatment of adolescent offenders