1. Symptomatic Distress and Personality Trait Ratings Derived from Sentence Completions
Stephen P. Joy, Ph.D. Erika Donoso, B.A.
Albertus Magnus College
Abstract
Personality traits (Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism) can be measured reliably using the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank (RISB). We explored the relationship between RISB-rated traits, self-reported traits (EPQ-R), and symptomatic distress (SCL-90-R) among undergraduates (N = 67). Both Neuroticism measures correlated strongly with multiple symptoms. RISB Psychoticism (but not self-reported P) correlated with Paranoid Ideation and Hostility. RISB Extraversion (but not self-reported E) correlated negatively with scales measuring social alienation.
It was hypothesized that:
Neuroticism would correlate strongly with most or all of the SCL-90-R scales,
Psychoticism would correlate mainly with scales reflecting anger, social alienation, and perhaps psychotic-like symptoms,
Extraversion would correlate negatively with scales reflecting social discomfort and dysfunction,
The RISB and SCL-90-R would show similar patterns of correlation with symptomatic distress.
Results
Introduction
The Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank (RISB; Rotter, Lah, & Rafferty, 1992) is a popular semi-projective personality measure. We have previously introduced new scoring systems by which the “Big 3” personality traits in Hans J. Eysenck’s P-E-N model can be measured using RISB protocols.
Extraversion (“E”) involves frequent experiences of positive affect, high levels of sociability and social confidence, reward sensitivity, and a tendency to engage in many different activities.
Neuroticism (“N”) involves frequent experiences of negative affect, strong reactions to stressors with slow return to baseline, punishment sensitivity, and vulnerability to milder forms of psychiatric illness.
Psychoticism (“P”) involves a cold, callous, impersonal approach to life, competitiveness, aggression, antisocial attitudes, some creative tendencies, and sometimes vulnerability to major mental illness.
These traits are related to personal adjustment. We expect to find that the traits, as rated based on RISB protocols, will show results similar to those reported in the literature.
As shown in Table 1, both Neuroticism measures correlated strongly with symptomatic distress on multiple scales, especially depression and interpersonal sensitivity. The two sets of correlations are almost identical.
RISB-rated Psychoticism correlated significantly with paranoid ideation and hostility and showed trends on SCL-90-R psychoticism as well as depression. This is almost exactly as expected. But self-reported Psychoticism did not correlate with any type of symptom.
RISB-rated Extraversion correlated negatively with a number of scales, including (as expected) interpersonal sensitivity and other scales associated with social alienation – but also with depression and anxiety. Self-reported Extraversion correlated with no symptomatic scales.
Table 1
Correlations between Personality Traits and Current Symptomatic Distress
RISB Trait Scales EPQ-R Trait Scales
SCL-90R Scale P1 E2 N3 P1 E2 N3
Somatization *
Obsessive-Compulsive ** **
Interpersonal Sensitivity ** .56** **
Depression ** .64** **
Anxiety * .41** **
Hostility .28* ** *
Phobic Anxiety * *
Paranoid Ideation .31* -.27* .44** **
Psychoticism ** .40** *
 Notes:
1. Psychoticism; 2. Extraversion; 3. Neuroticism
+ = p<.10; * p<.05; ** p<.01
Many individual symptoms correlated significantly with RISB-rated Neuroticism; the strongest of these were feeling lonely, feeling self-conscious, worrying too much, and feeling blue.
The symptoms most strongly related to RISB-rated Psychoticism were having ideas or beliefs others do not share, never feeling close to another person, having urges to break or smash things, and feeling critical of others.
The symptoms most strongly related to RISB-rated Extraversion (all in the negative direction) were being uneasy in crowds (not!), never feeling close to another person (not!), being afraid that others will take advantage of you (not!), and feeling lonely (not!).
Method
A sample of undergraduates (n = 67) completed the RISB, which consists of 40 stems to which test-takers are instructed to write completions expressing their true feelings. They also completed the SCL-90-R, a symptom checklist consisting of 90 items. Test-takers are instructed to rate how much each symptom has bothered them during the last week using a 5-point scale. The SCL-90-R is scored on nine clinical scales, though a common “anxious depression” factor accounts for most of the variance in scores. Most participants (n = 40) also completed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ-R; Eysenck & Eysenck, 1985), a 100-item self-report inventory that measures the “Really Big Three” P-E-N traits.
Note that although the SCL-90-R contains a scale labeled “Psychoticism,” its nature is different from that of the EPQ-R scale with the same name. The SCL-90-R scale measures symptoms, while the EPQ-R scale contains no pathological content. They overlap mainly in the realm of social alienation.
The RISB protocols were scored by independent judges who were blind to EPQ-R and SCL-90-R results. The reliability of the averaged ratings exceeded .90 for all 3 traits. These scores were then correlated with SCL-90-R. The correlations between the EPQ-R and SCL-90-R were also computed.
Sample RISB Protocol: Female, Age 19
I like…girls, boys scare me I suffer… from depression
The happiest time… I ever had was the I failed… my first two tests
day before my birthday Reading… is very enjoyable
I want to know… how long it will be My mind… is going at all times
till I’m happy The future… scares me but I crave it
Back home… I work and play I need… to be loved
I regret… doing a lot of things Marriage… is one of my goals
At bedtime… I think about crazy stuff I am best when… in a relationship
Men… make me feel unsafe Sometimes… I cry, a lot
The best… sex I ever had was recently What pains me… is the loss of my friends
What annoys me… at this time is A--- I hate… being so far away from K---
People… make me happy This school… is not for me
A mother… loves me very much I am very… odd and unique
I feel… lonely and lost The only trouble… I have is drugs
My greatest fear… is being alone forever I wish… I could run away
In high school… I did too many drugs My father… is never happy with me
I can’t… help that I like girls I secretly… fear being stupid
Sports… annoy me I… love B---
When I was a child… my father emotionally Dancing… relieves me of so much stress
abused me Other people… look at me funny
My nerves… cause me to clean My greatest worry is… not succeeding
Most women… are unstable
RISB Trait Scores Elevated SCL-90-R Scales
Psychoticism: 5 (High Average) Obsessive-Compulsive (mean = 2.30; T = 67)
Extraversion: 3 (Average) Depression (mean = 2.15; T = 64)
Neuroticism: 17 (High) Psychoticism (mean = 1.90; T = 65)
STICIM
Min
Max M SD
Interdependence
2.29
6.00
4.57
0.93
Sexual Intimacy
3.40
4.93
0.95
Comfort Intimacy
1.43
5.86
4.16
1.23
Trust
3.25
4.53
0.92
Warmth Motivation
2.50
1.00
Sexual Desire
3.20
5.21
0.91
Trust Motivation
3.75
5.18
0.64
IC Overall
3.08
5.84
4.55
0.77
IM Overall
3.70
4.99
0.70
Graphic Indicators M SD
Colors
4.70
2.34
Warm Colors
2.45
1.59
DYR Overall
19.33
8.49
Discussion
Personality traits rated based on sentence completion protocols correlate predictably with psychiatric symptoms as measured by the SCL-90-R. RISB-rated Neuroticism appears practically interchangeable with its self-report equivalent. RISB-rated Psychoticism appears to be superior to self-report, in that it correlates more strongly with theoretically related groups of symptoms. The same may be true of RISB-rated Extraversion, which (unlike its self-report equivalent) appears to provide some protection against symptomatic distress.
In some respects, the sentence completion method may be a superior way of assessing these important personality traits. Although they provide overlapping information (typically correlating with each other at r = .50 or above), they are also somewhat distinct. This is similar to the situation when other performance-based measures (such as the TAT or Rorschach) are compared with self-report measures of supposedly similar constructs. Self-reports are better able to measure explicit characteristics, but performance-based measures seem to do a better job of accessing implicit characteristics. Sentence completions appear to do both to some extent.
References
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