E-ISSN : 2733-4538
The purpose of this study was to provide initial information about cross-cultural performance on the Korean translation of the MMPI-A. A sample of Korean adolescents (105 boys and 142 girls) was compared with the American normative adolescent sample (805 boys and 815 girls) on scale scores and item endorsement frequencies. Mean Korean adolescent T-scores on the MMPI-A validity, clinical, and content scales all fell within one SD of the U.S. adolescent means. These T scores were much less elevated than those obtained by Korean college students using U.S. adult norms. Item endorsement differences between Korean adolescents and American adolescents were also much smaller than those between Korean college students and American college students. Gender-related item differences for Koreans were strikingly similar to those for Americans. Examination of the best discriminating items between the two cultures suggested both some degree of item inequivalence and bonafide cultural difference.