An investigation of personality characteristics associated with favorable adjustment to northern isolated living, and the usefulness of psychological tests in the selection of personnel for northern posting. 197 electronic technicians already screened on other psychological tests completed MMPI, Edwards Personal and Brainard Preference tests, and General Information and Arctic Interest questionnaires prior to 1 year of isolation duty on the mid-Canada Line. Adequacy of work and social adjustment was associated with 11 of 35 test variables and 3 of 26 questionnaire items. The discriminating function of the MMPI was reduced by the use of the K correction. It was suggested that despite the highly select nature of the sample used, the test battery has potential value in the selection of civilians to work in the far north.––(17 ref.)

An investigation of personality characteristics associated with favorable work and social adaptation in isolated, semi-isolated and urban settings. 614 Department of Transport employees completed MMPI, Edwards Personal and Brainard Occupational preference tests. For the total group adequacy of work and social adjustment was associated with 11 of 35 variables, the not K-corrected MMPI scale being the most consistent of the three tests in discriminating adjustment. The Suppressor (K) score was positively related to good psychological adjustment. The same personality traits appear to contribute to poor adaptation in urban as in isolated settings. Prediction formulae derived by discriminant function analysis from the total group failed to yield classifications beyond chance expectancy when applied to a validation sample. The predictive usefulness of this battery for northern selection is questioned.

A group of Canadian civilian males completed the MMPI and EPPS tests and their mean raw scores were compared with those of the American normative populations. Significant differences between the means were found for the majority of the variables. For the EPPS the differences were such that would not affect clinical interpretation. With the MMPI, the authors suggest that the use of the existing American norms with a Canadian population gives misleading results and that some consideration should be given to the establishment of norms for Canadians.

No abstract