Assessment of psychosocial factors in juvenile offenders: Developing a context-specific instrument for Latin America

This article presents the methodological approaches and findings related to the design and validation of a psychometric instrument for assessing psychosocial factors in juvenile offenders. We employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing four key techniques: a literature review, consultative groups, a pilot test, and a focus group. The literature review was conducted as a scoping review, covering studies published between 2000 and 2023. Three consultative groups were formed, comprising specialists in juvenile justice (n = 16), an advisory group (n = 6), and Latin American experts using the Modified Delphi method (n = 13). A content analysis was performed on 24 documents, including both peer-reviewed articles and grey literature. The groups evaluated four criteria—sufficiency, coherence, clarity, and relevance—analyzed using non-parametric and robustness tests. Twenty juvenile offenders and sixteen juvenile justice specialists participated in the assessment of content validity. Results underscored the importance of evaluating dynamic factors and employing diverse instruments for psychosocial assessment. The Modified Delphi method demonstrated excellent agreement (Kendall's W = 0.93 to 0.97) and strong content validity (item-level CVI = 0.78; scale-level CVI >0.90). Following the pilot test, five items were revised, enhancing the real-time data capture software and validating the use of response cards with a Likert scale. This 48-item instrument effectively assesses dynamic factors across four scientifically grounded dimensions, providing a structured basis for tailoring psychosocial support plans to the specific needs and capacities of juvenile offenders. The integration of mixed methods in the design and validation process provides a comprehensive approach, ensuring that the instrument effectively captures and measures the intended constructs.