Examination of the relationships among acculturation, racial identity, and the newly revised MMPI is warranted. This study investigated the degree to which racial identity influences Mexican-Americans' performance on the L, K, and MF scales of the MMPI-2. Also investigated were individual differences in performance on the L, K, and MF scales as a function of acculturation. Fifty-one Mexican-American undergraduates from Washington State University participated by completing an acculturation scale, a racial identity attitude scale, and the MMPI-2. Results indicated that performance on the L and K scales is influenced by racial identity attitudes and levels of acculturation, however, no evidence was found to suggest a relationship between cultural variables and performance on the MF scale.
Research has investigated the differences between ethnic minorities and Anglo-Americans on MMPI performance. Research on MMPI and MMPI-2 performance of ethnic minority groups, including Mexican-Americans, African-Americans, and Native-Americans, has been noticeably sparse. As recently as 1990, the literature showed no research that investigated the hypothesis that Mexican-Americans' acculturation may be associated with scores on MMPI-2 clinical and validity scales (Butcher, 1990; Groth-Marnat, 1990). Researchers have found that within-group differences can explain Mexican-American differences with regard to preference of counselor ethnicity, stress, and emotional problems (Cervantes & Castro, 1985; Keefe & Padilla, 1987).