Christine M. Rinck

Construction of new scales for the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List

Factor analyses were used to develop new scales for the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL) measuring anxiety, depression, hostility, positive, and sensation-seeking affects. Anxiety, depression, and hostility scales were moderately intercorrelated and a combined score called “dysphoria” was formed from their addition. Positive and sensation-seeking affects were also correlated and combined in a summary score (PASS). The dysphoric and PASS scores were not highly correlated. The number of items checked correlated highly with the positive affect scale, moderately with sensation seeking, and relatively low with the negative affect scales. Internal reliabilities were high and retest reliabilities were low, in conformance with the model for state scales. The anxiety score increased and the positive affect score and number of items checked decreased just prior to a classroom examination. Further plans for scale development are discussed.

Reliability and validity of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List - Revised

A recent factor analysis of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL) changed the Anxiety, Depression, and Hostility scales from bipolar to unipolar scales and added two new scales: Positive Affect and Sensation Seeking. Internal reliability of the MAACL-R scales, computed for normal and patient samples, was adequate for state and trait forms except for Sensation Seeking. Test-retest reliability in college students was higher for the trait form with retest intervals of from 2 to 8 weeks than for the state form with retest intervals of from 2 to 5 days. The pattern of correlations among self-, peer, and counselor ratings and the MAACL-R scales for normal and patient samples indicates improved discriminant validity and equally good convergent validity as the old scales. The use of standard scores that are indexed to the number of items checked reduced scale intercorrelations by controlling the acquiescence set.

The Multiphasic Sex Inventory: Diagnosis and prediction of treatment response in child sexual abusers

The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of the Multiphasic Sex Inventory (MSI) in predicting treatment progress and therapy outcome of child sexual abuse perpetrators and to examine the diagnostic potential of this instrument for differentiating perpetrator characteristics. The MSI was administered to 122 clients prior to their entry into therapy and again at three month intervals for nine months. No significant changes in MSI scales were found during the nine month period. Retest correlations on the initial test and the first three month retest period ranged from .42 to .84 with an average of .71. Using the initial MSI scores as predictors, the MSI was able to predict between 30% and 47% of treatment variance, depending on what measure was used as a criterion. It was able to differentiate between treatment outcome (success vs. failure) with 70.9% accuracy. The Sexual Assault, Aggravated Assault, Cognitive Distortion/Immaturity, Lie, and Sex Knowledge Scales were the most salient variables in predicting treatment progress and outcome. A factor analysis of the MSI Scales yielded four factors: Assault, Sexual Fantasy, Denial/Dysfunction, and Normal. The Assault Factor accounted for the largest proportion of variance. Results also indicated that the MSI could 1) differentiate among abusers who molest males, females, and both sexes and 2) among abusers who molest only intrafamilial victims, only extrafamilial victims, and those who molest both kinds of victims. The MSI is also an excellent instrument for differentiating between deniers and non-deniers of abuse. The implications of the MSI as an instrument measuring denial is discussed and an MSI profile of a successful therapy candidate is sketched.

Male and female sexual vocabulary in different interpersonal contexts

Abstract Previous investigators have demonstrated a wide divergence in a number of linguistic units and patterns of non‐verbal communication between men and women. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the vocabulary usage of men and women when discussing sexual concepts in a variety of interpersonal contexts. Two hundred two subjects at a Midwestern university anonymously reported their preference of sexual terminology for male and female genitalia and the act of copulation when discussing these terms with same sex friends, mixed company, parents, and lovers. The results demonstrate that the interpersonal context and the sex of the speaker often determine both the specific word(s) used and the amount of response variation. Females, more than males, have more stringent limitations on their sexual vocabulary repertoire. The differences between males and females are a function of both the interpersonal context and the specific sexual concept under discussion. The possible relationship between voc...

Interpersonal Touch among Adults in Cafeteria Lines

Previous studies have indicated that interpersonal touch decreases with age. In the present study 1012 pairs of college students and 212 pairs of elderly subjects were observed in cafeteria queues. Instances of touch were recorded along with sex, race, and body parts used to touch and touched. College students segregated themselves by race and sex just as the younger students had been observed to do in previous studies. Unlike all previous studies the elderly subjects did not segregate themselves by gender. For college students, touch was highest for female to male combinations; blacks were more likely to touch other blacks and least likely to touch whites. Touch was more likely among elderly subjects for female to female interactions than it was for college students, but there were no differences for the other gender combinations. In college students personal body areas were used to touch those of different gender while impersonal body areas were used to touch those of the same gender; personal body areas were more likely to be touched by others of the other gender. For elderly subjects there were no differences in frequencies with which personal or impersonal areas were involved in touch in relation to gender for either area used to touch or area touched.

Affects, demographic variables, and health.

The revised Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL-R) was given to a national probability sample that consisted of 1,543 adults who also were interviewed, which provided demographic data and self-ratings of health, medication use, and social activities. Standardization procedures have reduced markedly the acquiescence factor and the correlations among the dysphoric affect scales in the MAACL-R. The demographic variables of sex, race, age, education, occupation, income, marital status, religion, geographical area of residence, and size of town or city were related to some of the scales. Positive affect was related directly to self-ratings of health; dysphoric affect was related negatively to these ratings. Frequencies of volunteer activities and social activities in general correlated negatively with depression and positively with positive affect scales.

A Personal Log Method for Investigating Interpersonal Touch

Most of the research on interpersonal touch has involved public settings but much of our significant contact takes place in private settings. The body-accessibility studies included touch in both public and private settings, but rates of touch and settings were not reported. In the present study 76 subjects kept a log of touches received, their relationship to the toucher, the setting, and their rating of the pleasantness of the touch. There were no gender differences in rates of touch. Most touches occurred in private settings, particularly touches in personal body areas. A variety of sexual touches were reported.

Discriminant validity of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List - revised

Four groups of patients (depressives, schizophrenics, substance dependents and abusers), a miscellaneous group of “other patients,” and a group of matched normals from a general population sample were compared on the scales of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List - Revised (MAACL-R). All scales showed highly significant differentiation among the groups. An index consisting of Depression minus Positive Affect scales was particularly effective in discriminating between depressive and other groups. A discriminant function analysis showed that the depressive could be distinguished from other patient groups and normals with an accuracy of 72% correct. The normals could be distinguished from all of the patient groups with a 60% accuracy, and 87% if the substance abuser group is ignored. The discriminant validity among the nondepressive patient groups was not nearly as good.

Patterns of Psychotropic Medication Use Among Older Persons with Developmental Disabilities

While the prevalence of psychotropic drug use among older persons has been widely investigated, use of these agents in older persons with developmental disabilities has received little attention. We found this latter group to be prescribed more polypharmacy, antipsychotic, and antianxiety agents than were younger peers. Those who lived in more restricted residential settings (e.g., in skilled nursing facihties or in rural areas) had higher prevalence rates of antipsychotic drug use. In light of these findings, implications for policymakers are described. Measures to ensure the appropriateness of the prescription should be established. Better monitoring of polypharmacy and drug side effects should be initiated. Active programming should continue throughout the lifespan and training should be conducted for service providers.

MMPI experimental scale correlates of the MAACL-R with male alcoholics

Concurrent and discriminative validity of the MAACL—R scales were studied by means of correlations with selected MMPI experimental scales (AR, DR, HOS, Poor Morale, and ES) for a sample of 88 male VA alcoholics. Concurrent validity of Anxiety, Depression, Hostility and PASS, and discriminative validity of the Anxiety scale were confirmed.