MMPI-2 F scale elevations in adult victims of child sexual abuse

J Trauma Stress. 2003 Jun;16(3):269-74. doi: 10.1023/A:1023700208696.

Abstract

The present study assessed whether the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) F scale elevations may reflect genuine trauma-related distress and/or psychopathology, rather than malingering, in a clinical sample of adult child sexual abuse (CSA) victims. Eighty-eight women seeking outpatient treatment for CSA after-effects participated. Self-report measures of dissociation, posttraumatic stress, depression, and family environment individually correlated significantly with F, and collectively accounted for 40% of its variance. Dissociation was the strongest predictor. Findings suggest that high F elevations may reflect genuine problem areas often found among CSA victims, rather than symptom overreporting.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / diagnosis*
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / psychology*
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder / etiology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malingering / diagnosis*
  • Middle Aged
  • Outpatients
  • Personality Inventory*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / etiology