Abstract:
Demoralization, a psychological state characterized by pervasive dysphoric, unhappy
mood, helplessness, inability to cope, and general dissatisfaction with life, has been implicated as
a significant construct in psychopathology and its treatment. The Minnesota Multiphasic
Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008/2011) is
unique amongst other measures of personality and psychopathology as it includes a distinct,
separate scale intended to assess demoralization. Although the validity of RCd scores as
measures of general affective discomfort has been well-established by criterion validity studies
(e.g., Sellbom, Ben-Porath, & Graham, 2006; Arbisi, Sellbom, & Ben-Porath, 2008; Forbey &
Ben-Porath, 2008), no previous study has established their construct validity in relation to
broader research on demoralization. Accordingly, the current study reviewed the theoretical basis
for RCd including Frank’s (1961) demoralization concept, Schmale and Engel’s (1967) givingup—
given-up complex, Gruenberg’s (1967) social breakdown syndrome, Cassell’s (1991)
suffering, Clarke and Kissane’s (2002) demoralization syndrome, and Watson and Tellegen’s
(1985) structure of mood, and empirically placed RCd scores within this nomological network
(Cronbach & Meehl, 1957) by examining their association with demoralization-related
characteristics. Additionally, it investigated the ability of RCd scores to predict these demoralization-related characteristics beyond measures of two similar constructs, depression and
negative affect. A series of correlational and hierarchical regression analyses were
conducted using data from undergraduate students (N = 188) from a Midwestern
university. Results of correlational analyses suggested that RCd scores were negatively
associated with scores on measures of core self-evaluation, general self-efficacy, and ego
resiliency. Scores on RCd were positively correlated with scores on measures of external locus
of control, pessimistic attributions, reassurance seeking, and subjective
incompetence. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that RCd scores predicted a
majority of these outcomes better than depression or negative affect. Taken together, results
suggest RCd scores reflect the broader demoralization construct and do so better than measures
of either depression or negative affect. Additional implications, limitations, and future
directions are discussed.
