MMPI personality differences between adolescents from divorced and non-divorced families

Comparisons between the MMPI profiles of 52 adolescents from divorced families and 55 adolescents from non-divorced families showed that the divorced group demonstrated greater signs of overall emotional distress, depression, pessimism about the future, anxiety, somatic symptomatology, agitation, irritability, aggression and alienation. They also demonstrated lower levels of impulse control and self-esteem. Results were discussed with respect to some of the research on the effects of divorce on children.