Youth at Risk for Crime: A Meta-Analysis of Interventions Targeting Callous-Unemotional Traits and Social Competence

Abstract: This meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of intervention programs targeting callous-unemotional (CU) traits and social competence (SC) as risk and protective factors in youths at risk for crime. CU traits, marked by lack of remorse, guilt, and empathy are robust predictors of delinquency, whereas SC represents a key protective factor. A total of 3,227 participants across the included studies were analyzed. Random-effects meta-analysis of pre- to postintervention changes revealed a significant reduction in CU ( d = −0.19, p < .001) and significant improvement in SC ( d = 0.29, p < .001) across studies. Sensitivity analyses indicated that these effects were generally robust. However, SC effects attenuated under stricter quality criteria and became nonsignificant for some, but not all, quality thresholds. In addition, SC interventions produced short-term improvements that were not maintained at follow-up. Overall, CU-focused interventions yielded small to moderate effects that were sustained over time, suggesting that these programs can produce measurable changes in youth and hold promise for crime-related prevention intervention efforts during adolescence.