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MMPI‐2 F scale elevations in adult victims of child sexual abuse
Author(s) -
Flitter Jill M. Klotz,
Elhai Jon D.,
Gold Steven N.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1023/a:1023700208696
Subject(s) - minnesota multiphasic personality inventory , psychology , psychopathology , clinical psychology , sexual abuse , dissociative experiences scale , malingering , psychiatry , psychometrics , child sexual abuse , personality test , child abuse , personality , poison control , injury prevention , test validity , medicine , medical emergency , social psychology , cognition , schizotypy
The present study assessed whether the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2 (MMPI‐2) F scale elevations may reflect genuine trauma‐related distress and/or psychopathology, rather than malingering, in a clinical sample of adult child sexual abuse (CSA) victims. Eighty‐eight women seeking outpatient treatment for CSA after‐effects participated. Self‐report measures of dissociation, posttraumatic stress, depression, and family environment individually correlated significantly with F , and collectively accounted for 40% of its variance. Dissociation was the strongest predictor. Findings suggest that high F elevations may reflect genuine problem areas often found among CSA victims, rather than symptom overreporting.