The MMPI-2 in contested child custody cases: Differences for parents in entrenched disputes The goal of this study was to examine one aspect of the high-conflict parent, re-litigation, using the MMPI-2 profiles of parents court-ordered to participate in child custody evaluations. The sample, consisting of 626 MMPI-2's, was obtained from the archival records of a New York forensic psychology practice. Subjects were divided into two groups: parents presenting for a single evaluation, and parents presenting for multiple evaluations. Gender was also analyzed. Results showed that parents participating in multiple evaluations had higher K and R scores than parents requiring one evaluation, suggesting they are more defensive and reluctant to admit emotional distress. Further, single evaluation parents and multiple evaluation parents could be discriminated by the R scale, Repression. Several 2 X 2 factorial ANOVA's (Amount of Evaluations X Gender) revealed an interaction on scales 6 (Pa), 7 (Pt), and Pa2. Fathers who participate in multiple forensic evaluations had higher mean scores and the greatest percentage of clinical elevations on scales 6 (Pa) and 7 (Pt), indicating they are more suspicious, guarded, and tense compared to the remaining groups. On the Harris-Lingoes subscale Pa2, fathers completing multiple evaluations scored higher than mothers indicating they reported more loneliness, sensitivity, and felt more misunderstood. Additionally, mothers who go on to participate in multiple evaluations had lower scores on scales 7 (Pt) and Pa2, and higher mean scores on scale R, compared to mothers who complete a single evaluation. This suggests that women who go on to complete multiple evaluations are less anxious, lonely and sensitive, and less likely to admit emotional difficulties than women who participate in one forensic evaluation. In sum, the more frank, open and honest the parent is at the initial forensic child custody evaluation, the less likely the parent will be to return for an additional forensic evaluation. Additionally, the finding that men who are more suspicious and anxious comprise the multiple evaluation group lends credence to the theory that one parent may be driving the entrenched dispute. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved) https://www.upress.umn.edu/test-division/bibliography/2000-2009/2007/wisneski_mmpi-2_2007 https://www.upress.umn.edu/logo.png

Jennifer L Wisneski (2007)

The MMPI-2 in contested child custody cases: Differences for parents in entrenched disputes

PhD thesis.

Keywords

Adults
ANOVA
APA
Child custody
Child custody cases
Clinical elevations
Conflict
Custody
Custody evaluations
Distress
Driving
Elevations
Emotional difficulties
Emotional distress
Evaluations
Fathers
Forensic evaluation
Forensic psychology
Gender
Interaction
K
Loneliness
Mean
Mean score
MMPI 2
MMPI-2
MMPI-2 profile
pa
Parents
Profile
R Scale
Repression
Score
Sensitivity
Subjects
Subscale
Theory
Women

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The MMPI-2 in contested child custody cases: Differences for parents in entrenched disputes