Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Version 2 (MAYSI-2)

Participants: 1,279 male and female youths, aged 12 to 17, in Massachusetts juvenile justice facilities and 3,804 male and female youths in California Youth Authority custody

Sample / Population:

• Race/Ethnicity — Massachusetts sample: 44% white (non-Hispanic), 23% African American, 22% Hispanic, 4% Asian, and 6% other or unknown. California sample: 14% white non-Hispanic, 28% African American, 50% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 2% other

Summary:

Factor analyses of the 52 items identified seven scales that were conceptually associated with various mental, emotional, and behavioral problems of youths, which were generally confirmed by separate factor analyses with the California sample. The scales manifested adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Most scales were substantially correlated with conceptually similar scales in the MACI and YSR, and they identified most youths who scored at clinically significant levels on those instruments. The MAYSI-2 shows promise as a reliable and valid screening tool to assist juvenile justice staff in identifying youths who may need an immediate response to mental or emotional problems.

Participants: 704 youths evaluated at intake to detention facilities

Sample / Population:

• Race/Ethnicity — African American (74%), White (25%) and Hispanic (1%)

Summary:

This study evaluated the MAYSI-2 psychometric properties based on the records of 704 youths evaluated at intake to detention facilities. In addition to factor structure, the study evaluated test-retest reliability and concurrent external validity. Results were generally encouraging in terms of the use of MAYSI-2 in detention facilities.

Participants: 18,607 youth admitted to detention centers in Pennsylvania

Sample / Population:

• Race/Ethnicity — 47% African American, 39% White, 11% Hispanic/Latino, 2% Other, 1% Asian

Summary:

Approximately 70% of the males and 81% of the females scored above the clinical cutoff on at least one of the following five MAYSI-2 scales: Alcohol/Drug Use, Angry-Irritable, Depressed-Anxious, Somatic Complaints, and/or Suicide Ideation. Girls were more likely than boys to exhibit internalizing as well as externalizing problems. Mental health problems were most prevalent among white youths and least prevalent among African American youths. When youths repeated the screen upon subsequent visits to detention, their scores generally remained stable. The findings suggest that the MAYSI-2 is a promising triage tool for emergent risk.

Participants: 3,906 assessments of male and female juvenile offenders between 13 and 17 years of age who are incarcerated in the California Youth Authority

Sample / Population:

• Race/Ethnicity — 51% Hispanic, 28% African American, 15% White, 7% Asian

Summary:

The goal of this article is to evaluate the racial/ethnic and gender differential item functioning (DIF) of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument–Second Version (MAYSI-2) using the Rasch Model. DIF is identified in some items, raising concerns about the Suicide Ideation subscale as well as the Traumatic Experiences subscale that may require some further examination and revision.

Participants: 479 urban, rural, and suburban 12–16 year old youths (68% boys) consecutively admitted to juvenile detention centers

Sample / Population:

• Race/Ethnicity — 41% African American, 23% Latino

Summary:

Six principal components replicated the MAYSI-2 factor-analytically-derived subscales except for Depression/Anxiety, and suggested modifications of specific items in each sub-scale. Findings supported the internal consistency and validity of the modified MAYSI-2 sub-scales. Few gender differences emerged, except that girls reported higher levels of hopelessness and trauma than boys. Five sub-groups were identified based on component profiles:(1) non-clinical, (2) addiction, somatic problems, and suicidality, (3) anger problems, (4) thought disturbance, and (5) addiction and traumatic stress. The findings support the validity of the MAYSI-2 for juvenile justice mental health screening while highlighting possible refinements in scoring in order to identify delinquent youths with distinctive psychosocial risks and needs.

Participants: 1,192 adolescents(1,082 boys and 110 girls) admitted into Virginia juvenile correction facilities between the dates of July 2004 and June 2006

Sample / Population:

• Race/Ethnicity — 66.8% African American, 27.3% White

Summary:

Analyses revealed higher MAYSI–2 scale scores for girls than for boys and MAYSI–2 scale intercorrelations were similar to those reported in the MAYSI–2 manuals. We also evaluated the concurrent validity of MAYSI–2 scales by examining scale score correlations with related and unrelated extratest variables. Results showed strong convergent validity for several MAYSI–2 scales.

Participants: 836 institutionalized delinquents committed to the California Youth Authority

Sample / Population:

• Race/Ethnicity — 46% Hispanic, 28% African-American, 17% White, 9% Other

Summary:

Finite mixture modeling was employed to identify distinct latent classes based on MAYSI-2 scale scores. Identified classes were then compared across a range of covariates, including prior offenses, official records of misconduct, and multiple measures of mental health and psychological well-being. Findings revealed a three-class, gradient-based structure: low distress (n =380), moderate distress (n = 327), and high distress (n =129).Overall, the MAYSI-2 identified juvenile offenders with mental health and substance use issues, but it did not differentiate youths with respect to offending patterns.