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Comparison of MMPI scores of pregnant women and female medical patients
Author(s) -
Osborne David
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(197704)33:2<448::aid-jclp2270330224>3.0.co;2-2
Subject(s) - minnesota multiphasic personality inventory , psychology , pregnancy , clinical psychology , distress , emotional distress , psychological distress , third trimester , psychiatry , mental health , personality , gestation , anxiety , social psychology , genetics , biology
The MMPIs of 94 women who were in the first trimester of pregnancy were compared with the MMPIs of 1,690 female medical patients who were between 20 and 29 years old. Pregnant women obtained significantly lower scores on indices of subjective distress, somatic complaints, and general maladjustment. They obtained significantly higher scores on the Ego Strength scale, which reflects good psychological adjustment. The interpretation of Hooke and Marks (1962) that pregnancy is a period of good psychological adjustment and emotional health is supported.