Psychometric Properties of Spanish-Language MMPI-3 Scores in a Puerto Rican Parental Fitness Evaluation Setting

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) family of instruments have long been used in child custody and parental fitness evaluation (PFE) contexts, spanning from the original MMPI to the recently released MMPI-3. In addition to updating the English-language normative sample and expanding content coverage, the MMPI-3 was released with a U.S. Spanish-language normative sample. The present study sought to examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish-language MMPI-3, specifically in a PFE context. The sample consisted of individuals who were evaluated for parental fitness at a multisite private practice in Puerto Rico. A combined gender comparison group sample with equal number of men and women (n = 238) produced mean T scores that were within half a standard deviation of the Spanish-language normative sample on all scales. Scores on the Symptom Validity Scale were meaningfully higher among women (n = 247) relative to the normative sample, and the mean juvenile conduct problems score among men (n = 119) was meaningfully higher than that of the normative sample. Reliability estimates were generally adequate, with some reflecting low internal consistency; however, low standard errors of measurement indicated that low alpha estimates were a function of range restriction rather than measurement imprecision. Limitations, including the need for the accumulation of validity evidence, are discussed. Public Significance Statement This study provides support for the psychometric properties of the U.S. Spanish-language MMPI-3 in a parental fitness evaluation context. The results can be used by practitioners to guide interpretation of test scores in these contexts.