A defensive response set and the relation between cognitive and emotional functioning: a replication.
This study was designed to examine the hypothesis that a defensive self-report response set tends to attenuate the strength of the relationship between self-reported emotional functioning and cognitive tests, particularly the functioning of verbal memory. 75 patients with end-stage lung disease were administered the MMPI and a cognitive test battery as part of a psychosocial evaluation for transplantation. Patients were separated into defensive and nondefensive groups using the MMPI F - K Gough Dissimulation index (raw score F minus K < or = -15). Cognitive factor scores were generated and correlated with non-K-corrected raw scores of MMPI Scales 2, 7, and 8. Correlation coefficients were compared across groups. As predicted, increases on Scales 2 and 7 were significantly associated with decreased functioning of verbal memory (r = -.35 and -.34, respectively) among the nondefensive group but were unrelated in the defensive group. It is argued that the attenuation of the relationship between self-reported emotional status and verbal memory functioning is, in part, due to a restricted range of symptom endorsement on the MMPI among the defensive group. These findings replicate those previously reported using a sample of patients with cardiac disease.
Putzke
J D
JD
Medical Psychology Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama 35294-4551, USA.
Williams
M A
MA
Boll
T J
TJ
D003071:Cognition; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008950:MMPI / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*