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Using MMPI‐A profiles to predict success in a military‐style residential treatment program for adolescents with academic and conduct problems
Author(s) -
Weis Robert,
Crockett Thomas E.,
Vieth Sasha
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
psychology in the schools
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1520-6807
pISSN - 0033-3085
DOI - 10.1002/pits.10193
Subject(s) - truancy , minnesota multiphasic personality inventory , psychology , juvenile delinquency , attrition , recidivism , referral , clinical psychology , conduct disorder , logistic regression , personality , developmental psychology , social psychology , medicine , family medicine , criminology , dentistry
Military‐style residential treatment for adolescents with academic and conduct problems is an increasingly popular alternative to traditional school‐based services. However, dropout from “boot camp” programs is a primary reason for their high cost. Social‐emotional functioning before referral may differentiate adolescents who successfully complete these programs from those who withdraw. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory‐Adolescent (MMPI‐A; Butcher et al., 1992) responses of 225 adolescents (16–18 years) with histories of truancy and antisocial behavior were subjected to profile analysis prior to participation in a 22‐week, military‐style treatment program. Elevations on the F (Frequency), 1 (Hs), and 3 (Hy) scales differentiated adolescents who dropped out of these programs from those who graduated. Logistic regression showed prediction accuracy to be 75%. School psychologists may use MMPI‐A profiles, especially the 1/3 code type, to screen boot camp candidates, maximize adolescents' likelihood of success, and reduce costs due to attrition. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 563–574, 2004.