Comparison of MMPI-A, Marks and Briggs, and MMPI-2 norms for juvenile delinquents

A study was conducted to compare scores of juvenile delinquents on the new MMPI-A to previous research and to compare 3 sets of norms for adolescents: the MMPI-A, the Marks-Briggs adolescent norms, and the MMPI-2 adult norms. Subjects, 11 boys and 11 girls, were hospitalized adolescents, aged 14 to 17 years, with a history of conduct problems. Analysis of MMPI-A scale scores for boys indicated elevated T-score means on scales F (64), Hs (64), Pd (65), Pa (68), Pt (68), Sc (70), and Ma (66). Mean T scores for girls on the MMPI-A were elevated on scales of F (62), Pd (64), and Sc (62). The findings that the mean T score for scales Pd, Sc, and Ma are elevated for this population is consistent with previous research on juvenile delinquents. In general, the MMPI-A scale elevations were lowest, followed by the Marks-Briggs norms. The MMPI-2 T-score means were the most elevated. One of the limitations of the present investigation is an extremely small sample. Until further research is conducted on larger samples, clinicians concerned about the different norms are encouraged to plot MMPI-A scores on both adolescent and adult norms. It is also recommended that the MMPI-A be included as part of an assessment battery with other objective tests, clinical observation, and patient report.