Abstract
Psychological assessment is essential for the purposes of diagnosis and case conceptualization, design and implementation of therapeutic interventions, and referral decisions for adjunctive services. The development of assessment tools that are culturally appropriate and meet the needs of diverse ethnic groups within the United States are necessary to ensure clinical decisions are made with data that are culturally valid for these groups. Of specific interest in this dissertation is the Iranian-American population, which has grown substantially in the United States over the last two decades. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) is one of the most commonly used assessment tools utilized by psychologists in measuring psychopathology. In spite of its wide use, little is known about the appropriateness of the MMPI-2 with the Iranian-American population. This descriptive study involved a correlational design that investigated the extent to which demographic factors and/or the level of acculturation of Iranian American participants corresponded with variations in scores on the validity and clinical scales of the MMPI-2. Significant differences from the standardization sample of the MMPI-2 validity and clinical scales were analyzed. It was found that those Iranian Americans who were less acculturated to U.S. culture performed higher on scale L, 2, and 0 of the MMPI-2 Interpretations of these scales by mental health professionals should be done so with caution. Iranian specific cultural phenomena such as the practice of tarrof, Iranian dysphoric affect, and the process of immigration should be used to help understand MMPI-2 findings where possible.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Iranian Americans; Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory; Dissertations (PsyD) -- Psychology
Date of Award
2008
School Affiliation
Graduate School of Education and Psychology
Department/Program
Psychology
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctorate
Faculty Advisor
Rowe, Daryl M.
Recommended Citation
Shekarabi, Negar, "Iranian Americans and the MMPI-2: considering cultural factors in the assessment of psychopathology" (2008). Theses and Dissertations. 13.
https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd/13