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There are several levels of JIA interpretation ranging from viewing the JIA as a self-report to interpreting scale elevations and scale inter-relationships.
The following table is a starting point for interpreting JIA scale scores.
Risk Category |
Risk Range Percentile |
Total Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Low Risk |
0 - 39% |
39% |
Medium Risk |
40 - 69% |
30% |
Problem Risk |
70 - 89% |
20% |
Severe Problem |
90 - 100% |
11% |
A problem is not identified until a scale score is at the 70th percentile or higher. Elevated scale scores refer to percentile scores that are at or above the 70th percentile. Severe problems are identified by scale scores at or above the 90th percentile. Severe problems represent the highest 11 percent of juveniles evaluated with the JIA.
A problem is not identified until a scale score is at or above the 70th percentile. Elevated scale scores refer to percentile scores that are at or above the 70th percentile. Severe problem scores are at or above the 90th percentile. Problem risk scores represent 20 percent of juveniles evaluated with the JIA. Severe problem scores represent the highest 11 percent of juveniles evaluated with the JIA.
Alcohol Scale: Measures alcohol use and the severity of abuse. Alcohol refers to beer, wine and other liquor. It is a licit substance. An elevated (70 to 89th percentile) Alcohol Scale score is indicative of an emerging drinking problem. An Alcohol Scale score in the severe problem (90 to 100th percentile) range identifies serious drinking problems. Since a history of alcohol problems could result in an abstainer (current non-drinker) attaining a low to medium-risk score, precautions have been built into the JIA to correctly identify “recovering alcoholics.” Several JIA items are printed on the “significant items” section of the report and again in the “structured interview” (pages 3 and 4) section for quick reference. Most juveniles accept the objective and standardized Alcohol Scale score as accurate and relevant. This is especially true when it is explained that elevated scores don’t occur by chance. The juvenile must answer a definite pattern of alcohol-related admissions for elevated scores to occur. And Alcohol Scale scores are based on thousands of juvenile’s scores who have completed the JIA. An elevated Alcohol Scale score in conjunction with other elevated scores magnifies the severity of the other elevated scores when the juvenile drinks.
Anxiety Scale: Measures excessive worry about everyday real life problems. Worries are excessive, pervasive and pronounced. They can become focal sources of concern and interfere with relationships, social functioning, occupational performance and other activities. An elevated (70th percentile and higher) Anxiety Scale score reflects disruptive anxiety and worry. The higher the Anxiety Scale score the more severe the problem. Severe (90 to 100th percentile) Anxiety Scale scores are associated with intense, pervasive and pronounced apprehension and worries that can seriously disrupt ongoing life activities. Acute feelings of tension, agitation and apprehension along with anxious expectations permeate the clients’ or juvenile's life.
The Anxiety Scale measures nervousness, apprehension and somatic correlation of anxiety. This score varies directly with experienced symptoms. Most definitions of anxiety include a sympathetically-induced feeling associated with a sense of threat. General symptoms such as nervousness, apprehension and tenseness are included in this definition, as are panic, terror and somatic correlates of anxiety.
Depression Scale: Depression is one of the most commonly occurring mental health disorders affecting the U.S. population. Signs of depression include chronic sadness, loss of interest and pleasure in daily activities (e.g., social, occupational, recreational, etc.), depressed concentration and feelings of worthlessness. The higher the Depression Scale score the more severe the depression. Elevated (70th percentile and higher) Depression Scale scores identify juveniles in the early to middle stages of depression. A severe Depression Scale score (90 to 100th percentile) represents severe depression.
The Depression Scale score can be interpreted as a self-report or in terms of its interactions with other scale scores. Juveniles with depression are at greater risk for suicide. Alcohol and drug abuse can also reflect attempts at self-medication. Other elevated (70th percentile and above) JIA scale scores usually mean there is an interaction effect that can exacerbate reactions among the elevated scale scores. More specifically, the problems and disorders represented by the elevated scores can interact. Such interaction can contribute to exacerbated or magnified problems. Depression symptoms are especially dangerous when combined with co-morbid problems and disorders like substance (alcohol and drug) abuse, intense anxiety and impaired self-esteem.
Depression is treatable. Contingent upon symptom severity, treatment approaches often combine psychotherapy with prescribed medication. An integrated treatment approach should incorporate co-morbid disorders when present. Several effective psychotherapies are available. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is popular and effective when treating depression.
Distress Scale: Measures juvenile discomfort, unhappiness and pain. Distressed juveniles are very concerned, bothered and upset. Distress is one of the most common reasons people initiate counseling or psychotherapy. And it often serves as the beginning point in clinical inquiry. The magnitude of the Distress Scale is important. Elevated scores indicate something is wrong. Distress Scale scores in the severe problem (90 to 100th percentile) range indicate the juvenile is hurting, overwhelmed and desperate. A severe problem Distress Scale score in conjunction with a severe problem Self-Esteem Scale and/or Stress Coping Abilities Scale suggests very serious emotional problems and is usually a malignant sign. The Distress Scale can also be interpreted independently of other JIA scales.
Drug Scale: Measures drug (marijuana, ice, crack, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates and heroin) use and severity of drug abuse. An elevated (70 to 89th percentile) Drug Scale score identifies emerging drug problems. A Drug Scale score in the severe problem (90 to 100th percentile) range identifies established drug problems and drug abuse. Concurrently elevated Drug and Alcohol Scale scores are indications of polysubstance abuse, and the highest score reflects the juvenile’s substance of choice. The Drug Scale can be interpreted independently or in combination with other JIA scales.
Family Dynamics Scale: Family stability, problems and concerns are rated by the juvenile. Juvenile’s rate their own family interactions and interpersonal relationships. This scale assesses one’s family on a continuum from stable (no perceived problems) to problem oriented. Family relationships are often important in terms of treatment planning, therapeutic involvement, emotional support of endeavor and outcome. Family relationships represent important areas of inquiry in counseling and therapeutically oriented treatment programming.
Self-Esteem: Measures a juvenile’s feelings of self-worth. This scale is a reflection of the juvenile’s self-acceptance, self-approval, and self-respect. The concept of self evolves from self-evaluation of one’s ability, personal worth, attainment of goals and achieving one’s potential. The circumstances preceding their court appearance, incarceration and/or present environmental milieu results in many juveniles having impaired self-esteem. This is another example of the importance of standardizing the JIA on juveniles. Self-Esteem Scale scores are based on thousands of juveniles scores. The ubiquitous nature of self-esteem in the clinical literature emphasizes its importance in juvenile intervention/treatment programming. Self-esteem has been linked to suicidal behavior. And as discussed earlier, the Self-Esteem Scale can be interpreted independently or in combination with other scales.
Stress Management Scale: Measures how well the juvenile copes with stress. It is now accepted that stress exacerbates symptoms of mental and emotional problems. Thus, an elevated Stress Management Scale score in conjunction with other elevated JIA scales helps explain the juvenile’s situation. When a juvenile doesn’t handle stress well other existing problems are often exacerbated. Such problem augmentation applies to substance (alcohol and other drugs) abuse, attitudinal problems and acting-out behaviors. An elevated Stress Management Scale score can also exacerbate emotional and mental health symptomatology. When a Stress Management Scale score is in the severe problem (90 to 100th percentile) range it is likely that the juvenile has a diagnosable mental health problem. Lower elevated scores suggest possible referral alternatives like stress management classes. The Stress Management Scale score can be interpreted independently or in combination with other JIA scales.
Truthfulness Scale: Measures how truthful the juvenile was while completing the test. It identifies guarded and defensive juveniles who attempt to fake good. Scores at or below the 89th percentile mean that all JIA scales are accurate. Scale scores in the 70 to 89th percentile range are accurate because they have been Truth-Corrected. Truthfulness Scale scores at or above the 90th percentile mean that all JIA scales are inaccurate (invalid) because the juvenile was overly guarded, read things into test items that aren’t there, was minimizing problems, or was caught faking answers. Juveniles with reading impairments might also score in this 90-100th percentile scoring range. If not consciously deceptive, juveniles with elevated Truthfulness Scale scores are usually uncooperative, fail to understand test items or have a need to appear in a good light. The Truthfulness Scale score is important because it shows whether-or-not the juvenile answered JIA test items honestly. Truthfulness Scale scores at or below the 89th percentile indicate that all other JIA scale scores are accurate. One of the first things to check when reviewing a JIA report is the Truthfulness Scale score.
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