(PS4-A24) Changes in Levels of Cognitive Distortions After a Cbt-based Intervention for Bullying: Influence of Callous and Unemotional Traits

Callous Unemotional (CU) traits are used to describe features in youth relating to reduced guilt, callous use of others, and lower empathy (Frick & White, 2008). CU traits are related to antisocial behavior like bullying (Ciucci & Baroncelli, 2014). Some research has shown that cognitive distortions can moderate the relationship between CU traits and antisocial behaviors (Leeuwen et al., 2014). Other research has shown that CU traits are related to more hostile interpretations of others (Dapprich et al., 2023). Interventions to combat anti-social behavior in youth with high CU traits should target and measure these distortions; however, research is limited in this regard. The current study sought to investigate changes in cognitive distortions after a Tier-III bullying intervention and whether CU traits influenced changes in cognitive distortions.  

Data were collected from 78 participants referred to a Tier-III cognitive-behavioral intervention for bullying (M_age = 11.83, SD = 1.90; 65.4% male; 50.0% White). CU traits were measured using the Inventory of Callous and Unemotional Traits (ICU, Essau et al., 2006), with higher scores reflecting greater levels of self-reported CU traits. Cognitive distortions were measured using the How I Think Questionnaire (HIT, Barriga et al., 2001), with higher scores indicating a greater number of endorsed cognitive distortions used to justify anti-social behavior. Participants (n = 10) with suspect Anomalous Responding scores ( >4.25) were removed from analyses, leaving a total N of 68. Raw scores on the ICU were converted into T-scores relative to same age, same gender groups, with higher T-Scores reflecting greater CU traits.  Participants were then grouped into either a clinically significant CU trait group (t-score >=65, n = 33), or nonclinical CU trait group (t-score < 65, n = 37), and independent t-test analyses were conducted to compare changes in HIT scores.

Results indicated that there was significant differences in initial HIT scores across groups (x̄_nonclinical = 18.63, x̄_clinical = 21.93, t(50) = -2.58, p=.01) and a significant difference in HIT-change (follow up score – initial score) across groups, t(66) = 2.09, p = .04. Means indicated that those who endorsed low levels of ICU traits had, on average, less significant reduction of endorsed distortions (x̄ = -0.805) than those with significant ICU traits (x̄ = -2.87). Additionally, analysis of the lying subscale of the HIT indicated that although there was a significant difference in scores across groups, initially (x̄_nonclinical = 2.60, x̄_clinical = 3.04, t(56) = -2.16, p=.04), this difference was insignificant 2-weeks post intervention (x̄_nonclinical = 2.46, x̄_clinical = 2.59 t(66) = -0.65, p=.52). 

These results suggest that youth with higher CU traits on average demonstrated greater reduction in cognitive distortions after a Tier-III intervention when compared to youth with low CU traits. One explanation for our findings may be that youth with higher CU traits engage in socially desirable responding post-intervention. Future directions include measuring social-desirability or an analysis of outcomes 2+ weeks after intervention. Further results and implications will be discussed.