The adequacy of the MMPI-2 Harris-Lingoes subscales: Across-cultural factor analytic study of Scales D, Hy, Pd, Pa, Sc, and Ma

The authors investigated cross-culturally the factor structure of Scales D, Hy, Pd, Pa, Sc, and Ma of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory- 2 (S. R. Hathaway & J. C. McKinley, 1989) to examine the adequacy of the Ha rris-Ling-ocs (HL) subscales developed for these scales. A combined sample of 1,896 Israeli outpatients and inpatients and a sample of 1,020 American outpatients were used. Each scale was factor analyzed separately in the Isr aeli and U.S. samples and, within each sample, by gender. The results did n ot support the structural adequacy of the HL subscales for Scales D, Pd, Sc , and Ala but generally supported their suitability for Scales Hy and Pa. I n addition, the results also suggested that all clinical scales share a com mon element of general distress akin to A. Tellegen's (1985) negative affec tivity. These findings highlight the need for developing and validating a n ew set of subscales for most of the clinical scales, using external measure s of relevant clinical and personality domains for which the current scales may serve as a basis.