A Comparison of African American and White American Veteran MMPI-2 Profiles

Abstract

The present study compared a matched sample of 180 African American and 180 White American veterans who completed the MMPI-2 as a part of their evaluation while receiving inpatient psychiatric treatment. Findings indicated no significant multivariate or univariate effects associated with race on the basic validity and clinical scales, a significant multivariate effect but no significant univariate effects associated with race across the supplementary scales. Overall the two groups had very similar mean profiles across the basic validity, clinical, and supplementary scales. Comparison of the two groups on the content scales yielded a significant multivariate and significant univariate effects with African Americans scoring higher on the FRS, BIZ, CYN, and ASP scales. Because the two groups differed in terms of frequency and type of drug abuse, follow-up 2 x 2 univariate analyses of variance were conducted for the FRS, BIZ, CYN, and ASP content scales comparing participants classified in terms of presence or absence of a primary or secondary drug abuse diagnosis by race. A significant main effect associated with drug abuse was obtained for ASP. Results are discussed and considered in light of earlier research on the MMPI-2 and race. Content scale differences are also discussed in terms of possible differences in worldview.

MMPI-A Characteristics of Male Adolescents in Juvenile Justice and Clinical Treatment Settings

“…Although the results of this analysis suggest that this potentially confounding variable was not influential in the current results, further evaluation of the effects of ethnicity is indicated in future research. Our findings regarding ethnicity are similar to the results obtained by Munley, Murray, Morris, and Baines (2001), who found that few differences on MMPI-2 scales could be associated with ethnicity once participants were matched on diagnosis.…”

A comparison of MMPI-2 validity in African American and Caucasian psychiatric inpatients.

“…The two groups did not differ significantly on age or education; however, the African American group was less likely to have been married. As was the case for the original MMPI, in ethnic groups matched closely on demographic variables, previously observed mean differences on scale scores on the MMPI-2 tend to diminish or disappear (Greene, 1987; Munley, Morris, Murray, & Baines, 2001).…”

Personality patterns among Black, White, and Hispanic combat veterans.

“…Some researchers suggest differences that emerge may be because of education and socioeconomic status (Greene, 1987; Gynther, 1972). Although some studies have adjusted for age (Davis & Greenblatt, 1990; Davis et al, 1990; Munley, Morris, Murray, & Baines, 2001), no studies to date have adjusted for other potential confounding variables such as education and socioeconomic status. To date, no compelling explanation of these group differences has emerged.…”