MMPI-3 Predictors of Anxiety Sensitivity and Distress Intolerance

Abstract

Documenting empirical correlates of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–3 (MMPI-3) scale scores is important for expanding the clinical utility of the instrument. To this end, the goals of the current study were to examine associations between scores on MMPI-3 scales and measures of anxiety sensitivity and distress intolerance, two constructs reflecting intolerance of negative emotional states that are implicated in many psychological conditions, and to identify the scales that most strongly predict each construct. Using a sample of 287 undergraduate students (71% women; Mage = 18.90, SD = 1.12; 85% White), zero-order correlational, regression, and dominance analyses were performed to address these goals. Results indicate that when MMPI-3 scale scores are considered conjointly by scale family, they predict meaningful variance in anxiety sensitivity and distress intolerance measure scores, with conceptually implicated scales offering the strongest prediction across scale families. Implications for both research and practice, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.

Assessing posttraumatic stress disorder symptom clusters with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory‐3 in a forensic disability sample

“…Multiple regression analyses predicting latent PTSD symptom factors from MMPI‐3 scale scores were conducted to identify the strongest unique predictors of a given PTSD symptom cluster when MMPI‐3 scales were considered concurrently by scale family. In line with analytic procedures from previous examinations of the MMPI‐3 (i.e., Kremyar & Lee, 2022), all MMPI‐3 scales correlating with a given factor at r ≥ .30 were included in regression analyses, which were performed separately by scale family (i.e., separate analyses for H‐O, RC, SP, and PSY‐5 scales). Effect sizes from both analyses were interpreted according to guidelines from Cohen (1988; for r , .10–.29 = small, .30–.49 = moderate, >.50 = large; for R2, .02–.12 = small, .13–.25 = moderate, >.26 = large).…”