The relationship of MMPI and Sensation Seeking Scales to adolescent drug use

This study examined the relationship of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) measures, including the MacAndrew alcoholism (MAC) scale, and the Sensation Seeking Scales (SSS) to adolescents' drug use across nine drug categories. Subjects were 51 male and 72 female high school students between the ages of 14 and 18 (mean age = 16 years, 5 months). The drug use/abuse measure consisted of adolescents' self-reports on the Segal (1973) Alcohol-Drug Use Research Survey. Drug categories included for investigation were alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, caffeine, cocaine, hallucinogens, marijuana, narcotics, and tobacco. Scores from standard MMPI scales, the MAC scale, and the SSS were examined in relation to individual drug use outcomes, and multivariate procedures were used to predict polydrug versus single drug use patterns. Results demonstrated significant and meaningful relationships between personality measures and drug use among adolescents, with consistently strong findings for the SSS.     

Experience and desire: A new format for Sensation Seeking Scales

A new form (VI) of the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) was developed which separates reports of past experiences from desired or intended future experiences on both Disinhibition (Dis) and Thrill and Adventure Seeking (TAS) factors. Factor analyses were used to select items for the scales. High internal reliabilities were found for the Experience-Dis, Intention-TAS, and Intention-Dis scales, but only moderate reliability was found for the Experience-TAS scale. Retest reliabilities were high for all scales. The Experience-TAS and -Dis scales were highly correlated for males but not for females. The Experience- and Intention-TAS scales were moderately correlated, and the Experience- and Intention-Dis scales were highly correlated for both sexes. Both the TAS and the Dis scales on form V were highly correlated with the corresponding Intention scales on form VI. Uses for the new SS scales in individual assessment are suggested.A copy of SSS form VI may be obtained from the author.     

The Influence of Elevated F Scales on the Validity of Adolescent MMPI Profiles

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories (MMPI) of adolescent outpatients were examined to determine whether characteristically elevated F scales indicated an exaggeration of psychopathology. A treatment condition designed to reduce the motivation to exaggerate psychopathology did not lower scores of the F and F-K indices when subjects were administered a second MMPI. Similarly, actuarial interpretations for the second protocols were not more frequently selected by therapists as more valid, regardless of treatment condition and elevation of the F and F-K indices on the first MMPI profile. Elevations of Scales F, Pd4, and Sc8 characterized the adolescent MMPI profiles.     

The Psychophysiology of Sensation Seeking

This article summarizes studies relating the trait of sensation seeking to electrodermal and heart-rate responses and cortical evoked potential arousal. Stimulus factors of novelty, intensity, and stimulus significance are important. High sensation seekers tend to give stronger physiological orienting responses than lows to novel stimuli of moderate intensity, particularly when such stimuli are of specific interest. Lows tend to show defensive responses as defined by heart-rate acceleration. The cortical reaction of the highs tends to be augmented by intense visual or auditory stimuli, while that of the lows tends to be reduced or unresponsive to variations in stimulus intensity. Differences between psychophysiological responses of high and low sensation seekers are interpreted as reflective of different evolved biological strategies for processing novel or intense stimulation.     

父母控制、不良同伴和感觉寻求对工读生毒品使用的影响机制

在社会学习理论和生态系统理论基础上提出一个有调节的中介模型,探讨父母心理控制、行为控制与工读生毒品使用的关系,以及结交不良同伴的中介效应和感觉寻求的调节效应。514名工读生完成了父母控制问卷、不良同伴问卷、感觉寻求量表和毒品使用问卷。结果显示:(1)父母心理控制能正向预测工读生的毒品使用,父母行为控制能负向预测工读生的毒品使用。(2)结交不良同伴在心理控制、行为控制与工读生毒品使用的关系中起中介作用。(3)结交不良同伴的中介作用受到感觉寻求的调节。     

The Schalling Sensation Seeking and Impulsivity Scales: their relationship to time perspective and time awareness, a preliminary report

This study reports use of two scales developed in 1983 by Schalling, Edman and Asberg, Impulsivity and Sensation Seeking and their association with Time Perspective. 102 first-year university students completed both scales, a time perspective questionnaire, and a time awareness scale. The convergent validity, test-retest, and split-half reliability for both the Sensation Seeking and Impulsivity scales were high. Both sensation seeking and impulsivity showed strong relationships with time awareness but not with time perspective.     

Sexual Sensation Seeking and Sexual Compulsivity Scales: Validity,and Predicting HIV Risk Behavior

Two studies are presented that evaluate newly developed scales of sensation seeking and sexual compulsivity. Results showed that the scales were reliable and correlated with convergent and divergent measures in expected directions in samples of both gay men (N = 296) and inner city low-income men and women (N = 158). Consistent with theories of sensation seeking, the scales corresponded to an attraction toward a range of sexual practices, including increased frequencies of unprotected intercourse and a greater number of sexual partners. As expected, sexual compulsivity was not related to variety and novelty in sexual practices, but was associated with lower levels of self-esteem and resistance to adopting sexual risk-reducing strategies. However, important differences were observed between the gay men and heterosexual samples; scales correlated with substance use only among gay men, and sexual compulsivity was related to a range of sexual practices only among heterosexuals. The sensation seeking and Sexual Compulsivity Scales were therefore reliable, appeared valid, and useful in predicting sexual risk behaviors.     

药物成瘾者的感觉寻求人格特征

药物成瘾具有明显的心理成因,其中,成瘾者的人格特点,特别是感觉寻求人格特质,是导致药物成瘾的重要病原性因素。中脑边缘体多巴胺系统是感觉寻求行为与药物成瘾行为共同的脑奖赏系统,而多巴胺受体的遗传表达至少部分建立在个体执行新奇寻求和药物成瘾的行为上。感觉寻求特质对药物成瘾的作用受环境因素（父母,同伴）调节。文章也评述了感觉寻求相关研究所采用的测量工具。     

Cost-Benefit Analysis Mediation of the Relationship Between Sensation Seeking and Risk Behavior

Risk behavior during adolescence results in substantial morbidity and mortality. Sensation seeking consistently relates to engagement in risk behavior, but the psychological mediators of this relationship remain unclear. The current study demonstrates that adolescents’ judgments of the costs versus benefits of risk behavior were a significant mediator of this relationship. Participants were 406 racially and ethnically diverse adolescents ages 12-17 (M = 14.5, SD = 1.7; 48.3% female) who participated in a larger multi-site investigation of personality and neurocognitive predictors of risk behavior. Data were collected via self-report in a single laboratory session. Mediation of the relationship of sensation seeking to risk behavior was tested using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that higher levels of sensation seeking predicted weighing the benefits of risk behavior higher than its costs, which in turn predicted higher levels of risk behavior. Implications of these findings for understanding mechanisms underlying adolescents’ risk behavior and directions for future research are discussed.     

中学生感觉寻求、亲子关系与心理健康的关系

以370名中学生为被试,采用量表法,考察了中学生感觉寻求、亲子关系(家庭教养方式)与心理健康水平的关系。结果表明:(1)人口统计学变量(性别、是否单亲、年级和家庭人均月收入)对中学生心理健康水平具有显著影响。(2)去抑制感觉寻求因子和亲子关系与心理健康水平相关显著:去抑制与心理健康呈显著正相关,亲子关系与心理健康呈显著负相关,去抑制与亲子关系呈显著负相关。(3)在控制了人口统计学变量之后,去抑制感觉寻求因子和消极拒绝型、积极拒绝型、不安型、矛盾型亲子关系对心理健康水平具有良好预测能力。(4)去抑制感觉寻求因子在亲子关系对心理健康的影响上起到了中介作用。     

感觉寻求对工读生病理性网络使用的影响机制

采用感觉寻求量表、压力性生活事件量表、非适应性问卷和病理性网络使用量表对519名工读生进行调查,考察了工读生病理性网络使用的情况以及感觉寻求对工读生病理性网络使用的影响及作用机制。结果表明：（1）工读生病理性网络使用的比例为51.1%,工读生病理性网络使用的问题很严重;（2）感觉寻求对工读生病理性网络使用的影响是有中介的调节效应,具体而言,感觉寻求会增加工读生病理性网络使用;压力性生活事件对感觉寻求与工读生病理性网络使用之间关系具有调节作用;压力性生活事件的调节效应以非适应性认知为中介变量。研究结果对工读生病理性网络使用的预防和干预具有重要价值。     

青少年感觉寻求与烟酒使用的关系:一个有中介的调节模型

在生态系统理论和社会学习理论基础上提出一个有中介的调节模型,探讨青少年感觉寻求与烟酒使用的关系,以及压力性生活事件的调节效应和结交不良同伴的中介效应。被试为660名青少年,研究工具包括青少年感觉寻求量表、压力性生活事件量表、不良同伴问卷和烟酒使用问卷。结果显示:(1)青少年感觉寻求是烟酒使用的风险因素。(2)压力性生活事件对感觉寻求与烟酒使用之间的关系具有风险增强的调节效应。(3)这种调节效应以结交不良同伴为中介变量。因此,青少年感觉寻求与烟酒使用之间既存在调节效应又存在中介效应。     

Clinical Correlates of MMPI Depression Scales

We investigated whether Scale 2 (Depression [D]) and the Wiggins Content Scale of Depression (DEP) of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) have different clinical correlates when only one of these two scales is elevated. According, a group of patients who elevated DEP higher than Scale 2 (DEP > 2) were compared with a group of patients who elevated Scale 2 higher than DEP (2 > DEP). The patients with DEP > 2 were rated as being less severe than the patients with 2 > DEP on the following Brief Psychiatric Rating Scales: Somatic Concern (SOM), Emotional Withdrawal (WDRA), Depressive Mood (DEP), and Blunted Affect (AFF). The patients with DEP > 2 were rated as more severe on Excitement (EXC). The patients with DEP > 2 were more likely to receive the Axis I diagnoses of: bipolar disorder, manic, and alcohol abuse. Schizophrenia was equally probable for patients in the two groups. It appears that these two MMPI scales of depression have different clinical correlates when either one scale or the other is elevated.     

Decreasing Adolescent Drug Use and School Failure:

Behavioral analyses of 3 adolescents show that 3 months of targeted family problem-solving training can decrease drug use and school failure by the end of a 1 1/4 year follow-up while control behaviors remain stable. Some findings, however, reflected incomplete understanding of the controlling variables: (a) lengthy delays before behavioral improvement, (b) recurrences of the problem behavior and subsequent recoveries during follow-up, and (c) correlated changes in the home and school environments. It is suggested that systematic study of relevant variables in the intervention could reduce behavioral variability and further increase understanding of adolescent drug use.     

青少年吸毒行为预防干预研究述评及展望

青少年吸毒问题已令人触目惊心,应引起研究者高度的关注。该文对国外18岁以下青少年吸毒预防干预的方法、模式和影响干预效果有效性的重要要素进行了述评,介绍了一些国外著名的青少年吸毒预防干预方案,在此基础上结合当前最新的研究进展对该领域未来的发展方向和趋势进行了展望。     

The Clinical Application of MMPI Special Scales/MMPI Supplemental Scale Manual (Book)

Two studies involving a total of 200 participants examined the effect of individual versus group test administration on Rorschach Oral Dependency (ROD) scores. In Study 1, 60 college students completed the ROD scale via a group administration, and 60 students completed individual Rorschach protocols from which ROD scores were derived. Analyses revealed no differences in ROD means and standard deviations and no differences in the form of the ROD score distributions (i.e., skewness and kurtosis) as a function of mode of test administration. Virtually identical results were obtained in Study 2 (N = 80), where a within-participants design was used in lieu of the between-participants design of Study 1. Implications of these findings for the construct validity of the ROD scale are discussed.     

The Association of Sensation Seeking and Impulsivity to Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol

This study examined the association between sensation seeking, impulsivity, and drunk driving. Results showed significant differences in sensation seeking and impulsivity among 160 individuals convicted of impaired or intoxicated driving and individuals who had never been arrested for driving while under the influence/driving while intoxicated offenses.     

感觉寻求、同伴压力对高中生烟酒使用的影响

对来自山东日照市两所普通高中1~3年级的689名学生进行问卷调查,考察感觉寻求、同伴压力（包括烟酒使用同伴压力与其他同伴压力）对高中生烟酒使用的影响,以及同伴压力的调节作用。结果表明：（1）感觉寻求、烟酒使用同伴压力对高中生烟酒使用有正向预测作用,其他同伴压力也能显著预测其饮酒行为。（2）烟酒共用同伴压力调节感觉寻求和高中生烟酒共用间的关系,只有在高烟酒共用同伴压力下感觉寻求才会显著预测烟酒共用;饮酒同伴压力也调节感觉寻求和高中生饮酒间的关系,只有在高饮酒同伴压力下高感觉寻求者才会有较多饮酒行为;其他同伴压力无此调节作用。（3）吸烟同伴压力不能调节感觉寻求和高中生吸烟间的关系。     

Neural Correlates of Emotional Reactivity in Sensation Seeking

ABSTRACT— High sensation seeking has been linked to increased risk for drug abuse and other negative behavioral outcomes. This study explored the neurobiological basis of this personality trait using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). High sensation seekers (HSSs) and low sensation seekers (LSSs) viewed high- and low-arousal pictures. Comparison of the groups revealed that HSSs showed stronger fMRI responses to high-arousal stimuli in brain regions associated with arousal and reinforcement (right insula, posterior medial orbitofrontal cortex), whereas LSSs showed greater activation and earlier onset of fMRI responses to high-arousal stimuli in regions involved in emotional regulation (anterior medial orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate). Furthermore, fMRI response in anterior medial orbitofrontal cortex and anterior cingulate was negatively correlated with urgency. Finally, LSSs showed greater sensitivity to the valence of the stimuli than did HSSs. These distinct neurobiological profiles suggest that HSSs exhibit neural responses consistent with an overactive approach system, whereas LSSs exhibit responses consistent with a stronger inhibitory system.