A Comparison of Psychological Characteristics between Sexually Assaulted and Molested Victims Using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2

Lee, Sang Min; Kim, Sung Jin; Jung, Do Un; Kang, Je Wook; Moon, Jung Joon; Jeon, Dong Wook; Lee, Yoon Ho; Kim, You Na

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study analyzed psychological aftereffects and made comparisons between victims who were either sexually assaulted or molested using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2(MMPI-2).
METHODS
The participants were adult women who visited the Busan Smile Center within 6 months following sexual assault. This study categorized the participants according to types of sexual violence and then identified their social demographic features and characteristics. Student's t-tests were carried out to compare the MMPI-2 results between the sexually assaulted group and sexually molested group. Chi-square tests were also conducted to compare between participants who scored above 65T.
RESULTS
Among the 55 participants, 32 were sexually assaulted; 23 were sexually molested. Significant differences between the two groups were found in the following scales: F, F(B), F(P), Pt, Sc, Ma, RC6 and PSYC. Moreover, the number of participants with higher scores in the Pa, Pt, Sc, RC6, and PSYC scales in the sexually assaulted group was significantly higher than in the sexually molested group.
CONCLUSIONS
Both groups of victims may commonly suffer beyond the moderate level of depression and anxiety in the post-case term. In addition, the sexually assaulted group seems to suffer relatively more from panic and psychological pain than the sexually molested group does.