Objectives : This study is aimed at determining how the reliability of the results of the Korean Personality Inventory for Children(KPI-C) is affected according to the results of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory(MMPI) of the mothers. It is ...
Objectives : This study is aimed at determining how the reliability of the results of the Korean Personality Inventory for Children(KPI-C) is affected according to the results of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory(MMPI) of the mothers. It is also intended to determine the mothers’ characteristics to considered at the interpretation or evaluation of the results of the test and investigate the correlation between the psychological problems of the mothers and their children.
Methods : The subjects of this study were 43 mothers whose children visited the psychiatric department at Dongsan Hospital, Keimyung University from August 1998 until Jun 1999. They were administered with both MMPI and KPI-C Inventory. They were sorted into two group ; diagnosis consistent group and diagnosis inconsistent group depending on whether or not the KPI-C results mothers reported matched the clinical diagnosis of children. The motehrs’ variables and the results of MMPI were compared between the two groups. The correlation of MMPI and KPI-C was also studied. The statistical analysis was conducted using Independent samples t-test, χ^2-test, and Person correlation analysis. Statistical significance was p<0.05.
Results : 1) In the whole group, the diagnosis consistent group was 29 people(67.2%) and the diagnosis inconsistent group was 14 people(32.8%). 2) The mothers’ MMPI results of the two groups belonged to the normal range. 3) There was no significant difference between the two group in their age, educational level, and job. 4) In comparing MMPI of the groups, the diagnosis inconsistent group showed significantly higher scores in L and K scales, and the diagnosis consistent group had higher scores in F, Hs, D, Hy, and Pa scales. 5) The correlation analysis of the validity scales of MMPI and the scales of KPI-C showed significantly negative correlation in the L scale f MMPI and FAM scale of KIP-C, K scale of MMPI and F, SOM, DLQ, PSY scales of KPI-C, On the other hand, the analysis showed significantly positive correlation in the K scale of MMPI and ERS scale of KPI-C, F scale of MMPI and DEP, SOM scales of KPI-C. 6) The correlation analysis of the clinical scales of MMPI and the scales of KPI-C showed significantly positive correlation in the Hs scales of MMPI and F, ANX, DEP, SOM of KPI-C, D scales of MMPI and ANX, DEP, SOM SOC, of KPI-C, Hy scales of MMPI and F, ANX, DEP, SOM, HPR, FAM scales of KPI-C, Pd scales of MMPI and DEP, SOM, FAM scales of KPI-C. It also showed significantly positive correlation in the Pa of MMPI and ANX, SOM scales of KPI-C, Pt scales of MMPI and PDL, ANX, DEP, SOM, FAM, PSY scales of KPI-C, Sc scales of MMPI and F, DEP, SOM, FAM, PSY scales of KPI-C, Ma scales of MMPI and F, SOM, FAM scales of KPI-C, Si scales of MMPI and SOM scales of KPI-C. On the other hand, the analysis showed significantly negative correlation in the Hs, D, Hy, Pt, Sc scales of MMPI and ERS scales of KPI-C.
Conclusion : It is shown that the characteristics of the mothers’ personality have important effects on the perception of their children’s problems. In particular, the stronger the mothers’ defensive characteristics are, the lower the reliability of their perception of the children’s problems. On the other hand, the reliability is high when the mothers acknowledge their problems and perceive their children’s responses sensitively. Accordingly, it will hereafter be necessary to consider the characteristics of mothers’ personality at the interpretation or diagnosis of the results of children’s evaluation that mothers report. It is also shown that there is a significant correlation between the psychological problems of the mothers and their children.