Psychological health of young adults who experienced early parent death: MMPI trends. 1984

D R Dietrich

Psychological effects that result from childhood parent loss by death are of substantial clinical and research importance. Parent loss has been linked with various psychopathology, though little is known of its effects on subsequent psychological health (a) as a function of the child's sex; (b) in normal individuals; (c) where early parent separation also has occurred. This study provides data on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-168 (MMPI-168) that address these issues. Ss were normals (16 males and 16 females per group) divided into three groups: Early bereaved (up to age 7), late bereaved (ages 12 to 18), and nonbereaved. In 50% of the bereaved individuals, two or more MMPI-168 clinical scales were pathologically abnormal compared with 28% of controls. Significant parent loss by child's sex interaction effects were obtained on Psychopathic Deviate, Masculinity-Femininity, Psychasthenia, and Schizophrenia scales. A significant effect was found for early parent separation on the Schizophrenia scale.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008426 Maternal Deprivation Prolonged separation of the offspring from the mother. Deprivation, Maternal,Deprivations, Maternal,Maternal Deprivations
D008950 MMPI A personality inventory consisting of statements to be asserted or denied by the individual. The patterns of response are characteristic of certain personality attributes. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
D010333 Paternal Deprivation Prolonged separation of the offspring from the father. Deprivation, Paternal,Deprivations, Paternal,Paternal Deprivations
D010553 Personality Development Growth of habitual patterns of behavior in childhood and adolescence. Development, Personality
D011594 Psychometrics Assessment of psychological variables by the application of mathematical procedures. Psychometric
D011599 Psychopathology The study of significant causes and processes in the development of mental illness.
D005260 Female Females
D006117 Grief Normal, appropriate sorrowful response to an immediate cause. It is self-limiting and gradually subsides within a reasonable time. Mourning,Griefs,Mournings
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
Copied contents to your clipboard!