In addition, the MMPI has scales designed to detect when test-takers are under-reporting or downplaying psychological symptoms, i.e., lying (L), defensiveness (K) and faking (F). The MMPI has 10 clinical scales, i.e., (1) hypochondriasis-Hs, (2) depression-D, (3) hysteria-Hy, (4) psychopathic deviation-Pd, (5) femininity/masculinity-F/M, (6) paranoia-Pa, (7) psychasthenia-Pt, (8) schizophrenia-Sc, (9) mania-Ma, and (10) social introversion-Si. The version used for the study was the MMPI developed by Hathaway & McKinley and translated into Thai language by Kasemsak Poomsrikeo. The MMPI is a standardized psychometric test of adult personality and psychopathology. Mean age of the participants was 18.64 years old (SD = .59), and 60.7% were female. One hundred and ninety-six students completed the psychological measures during their third year of medical study (Additional file 1: Figure S1). Participants were followed-up for changes in previously noted psychological variables and asked to complete the same measures when they were in their third year of medical school (Time 2). Of the 250 students who was ultimately admitted into the medical school, 203 students participated in this study however 201 students completed various psychological measures that assessed self-esteem, perceived stress, perceived social support, interpersonal problems, and psychological symptoms (Time 1). The MMPI results were then provided to the interview committee as additional data to aid in the committee’s decision-making.
Two hundred and fifty five students, who passed the written entrance examination for the medical school, completed the MMPI before the admission interview. Participants were medical students who were administered the MMPI as part of the medical school admission process. This study employed an observational and prospective design to explore using the MMPI to predict both positive and negative psychological outcomes. If so, employing the MMPI during the admission process would help to identify those students at risk of incurring psychological problems or diminished levels of self-esteem. We hypothesized that some MMPI clinical scales would predict these changes. This study examined Thai medical student’s MMPI personality profiles, assessed during the admission process at a Chiang Mai medical school, in predicting changes regarding psychological problems and self-esteem during subsequent years. However, to the best of our knowledge, the relationship between MMPI clinical scales and self-esteem has not yet been explored. Self-esteem has been shown to be related to extraversion and neuroticism, and some items of MMPI were drawn to form a self-esteem content scale in the MMPI-2. On the other hand, positive attributes such as self-esteem play important roles not only in medical performance, but also in influencing a student’s sense of well-being. This suggests that psychopathology can also relate to personality traits. Evidence has shown that Thai medical students tended to have higher scores on most subscales of the MMPI by the third year of medical school. Although MMPI results typically are not used for admission decision, they help direct the attention of the interview committee to applicants who score high on certain MMPI scales.Ĭommon psychological problems among medical students include anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, all of which relate to personality. Ĭurrently, medical schools in Thailand use the MMPI as a tool to assess psychopathology during the student selection process.
Poor academic performance was related to the MMPI scales of hysteria, psychopathic deviate, and schizophrenia. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is an instrument that has been used globally to assess personality and psychological issues. Īssessing psychological problems and personality traits is a routine practice as a part of the medical students’ admission process. Apart from intellectual ability, personality traits are believed to be important factors that affect medical school performance, psychological adaptation, motivation in medical education and psychological problems, which may interfere with study. Medical education is challenging and demanding.
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