Table 4-2. Sample breakdown by demographic characteristics
Characteristics n %
Ethnicity
 African American 163 29.7%
 Hispanic 160 29.2%
 European American 125 22.8%
 Other 100 18.2%
 Gender
 Male 203 40.3%
 Female 301 59.7%
 Grade
 6 153 28.1%
 7 210 38.5%
 8 182 33.4%


 The subscales of the MAYSI-2 were significantly inter-correlated. See Table 4-3

for exact figures. The overall Cronbach's Alpha was 0.86. The Cronbach's Alphas for

each subscale are listed in Table 4-3. Reliability coefficients were acceptable and similar

to those obtained in previous studies using this measure (Grisso & Barnum, 2000).

Correlations and descriptive statistics were also similar to those reported in the scoring

manual. The exception was the difference in the alcohol/drug use subscale. The youths

from the juvenile justice system had a higher mean score on this measure as would be

expected (Grisso & Barnum, 2000).

 Subgroups means were compared based on ethnicity, grade and gender using

univariate analysis of variance tests with multiple comparisons. Differences were found

only on the depressed/anxious mood subscale. Girls scored higher on this subscale than

boys [F (1, 434) = 7.76; p = .006] and European Americans scored lower than the other

three ethnic groups [F (3, 443) = 7.29; p < .004].