Cashel ML, Rogers R, Sewell KW, Holliman NB. Preliminary validation of the MMPI-A for a male delinquent sample: an investigation of clinical correlates and discriminant validity.
J Pers Assess 1998;
71:49-69. [PMID:
9807230 DOI:
10.1207/s15327752jpa7101_4]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Adolescent psychopathology, until recently, has been a largely neglected area of research and poses unique challenges for psychological assessments. In response to the specific need for adolescent-focused measures, the MMPI-A (Butcher et al., 1992) was among several measures to be developed. Although a sizeable literature exists on the original MMPI (Hathaway & McKinley, 1943) and adolescent populations, relatively few empirical studies have been published on the MMPI-A. The primary purpose of this study was the examination of clinical correlates for the MMPI-A for a male delinquent sample. MMPI-A protocols were collected from 99 adolescents at a North Texas juvenile correctional facility, and systematic comparisons were conducted between the Basic Scales and symptoms/diagnoses derived from the Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS-III-R; Ambrosini, Metz, Prabucki, & Lee, 1989). Using only K-SADS-III-R symptoms with high reliabilities (rs > .80), a comprehensive list of correlates was generated for the Clinical, Supplementary, and Content Scales. Additionally, stepwise discriminant functions successfully classified MMPI-A protocols according to K-SADS-III-R diagnoses. As an exploratory analysis, ethnic differences on MMPI-A profiles were also investigated, revealing significant differences among groups.
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