The relationship between risk of reconviction and the MMPI-2-RF in samples of male and female Lithuanian offenders in custody

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between scales from the MMPI-2-RF (Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008) and risk of reconviction assessed using Offender Assessment System (OASys; HM Prison Service and National Probation Directorate, 2001). A random sample of 401 (351 males and 50 females) offenders from all Lithuanian custodial institutions was selected for the study. The OASys data was coded by correctional officers and psychologists using interview and official criminal files, the MMPI-2-RF data was collected using standard paper-and-pencil self-report procedure. Demographic information was collected as well. 260 participants had complete data, 28% of them were excluded from further analysis on the basis of validity scales results. The data of 188 offenders (160 males and 28 females) was used for final analysis. The mean age of selected participants was 35 years (SD = 11.6), the average number of convictions was 4.6 (SD = 3.6). The largest correlations (significant at level of p < .001) in male sample were between risk of reoffending and MMPI-2-RF scales related to under-controlled behavior, antisocial behavior, juvenile conduct problems, substance abuse, aggression (BXD r = .350, RC4 r = .397, RC9 r = .209, JCP r = .365, SUB r = .290, AGG r = .258, DISC-r r = .304). Besides behavioral domain the risk of reconviction was related to some internalized problems scales, such as anxiety or multiple specific fears (AXY r = .219, MSF r = .236). In female sample the correlations between risk of reoffending and MMPI-2-RF scales indexing externalized problems were even higher (BXD r = .558, RC4 r = .738, JCP r = .610, SUB r =.646, DISC-r r = .488). In addition, risk of reoffending was significantly related to MMPI-2-RF scales reflecting disordered thinking, unusual perceptions and disconnection from reality (THD r = .552, RC8 r = .470, PSYC-r, r = .540). The results of the study confirms the utility of MMPI-2-RF for assessing personality and psychopathology of offenders. It also supposes that risk or reoffending in male and female samples is related to different psychopathological factors.