Personality measurement in parents of retarded and emotionally disturbed children: a replication.

Replicated Erickson's (1968, 1969) studies that compared MMPI profiles of parents of emotionally and behaviorally disturbed (ED), mentally retarded (MR), and non-clinic (N) children. In general, Erickson's findings that the MR and ED parents did not differ, but that both showed elevated profiles relative to N, were confirmed. The results were interpreted to provide partial supporter for Erickson's "stress reaction hypothesis," whereby the well-known clinic parent MMPI elevations presumably reflect the parents' stress as a result of having a disturbed or handicapped child.