A comparison of professionally employed lesbians and heterosexual women on the MMPI

Abstract

The hypothesis tested is whether lesbianism implies psychopathology. The MMPI was given to 26 nonpatient lesbians who were professionally employed full time, and the results were compared to those for a group of 29 similarly employed heterosexual women. With the exception of the Sc scale, no difference was found on the clinical scales. The lesbian group achieved a significantly higher elevation than the nonlesbians on the Mf and Sc scales. Further analysis of the data on the Sc subscales indicated no difference on the pathological part of the scale, but rather a difference in degree of social alienation. Analysis of the data according to a second variable, living status, found significant differences and has important implications for future studies of the lesbian population. Single women, regardless of sexual orientation, scored significantly higher on scales K and Pa and on the Pa subscale naivete. A significant interaction between sexual orientation and living status was achieved on one scale, the F scale.

Children of Gay and Lesbian Parents

“…The research on lesbian gender identity and gender role indicates greater or comparable masculinity and comparable femininity in lesbian women compared to hetersexual women (Adelman, 1977;Bell & Weinberg, 1978;Heilbrun & Thompson, 1977;Saghir & Robins, 1973;Ward, 1974). Again, based on role modeling theory, it was hypothesized that daughters of lesbian mothers would achieve higher masculinity and/or androgyny scores than daughters of heterosexual mothers.…”

The Palgrave Handbook of the Psychology of Sexuality and Gender

“…In the main, these were studies exploring psychological adjustment (e.g. Adelman, 1977;Oberstone & Sukoneck, 1976), and quality of lesbian relationships (Peplau et al, 1978). Overwhelmingly, the findings of these studies suggested that lesbians were well adjusted and satisfied with their relationships, and, contrary to popular belief, were fully functioning members of society (e.g.…”

Female sex‐role deviance: Early identification and developmental intervention1

“…Depression is the most common form of psychopathology in non-patient female homosexuals, followed by anxiety states (Kenyon, 1968). Professionally-employed homosexual women who were neither members of a homophile organization nor psychiatric patients were recently studied by Adelman (1977). (The socioeconomic bias in this latter sample is readily evident).…”