Date of Award

1-1-1986

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

This study is concerned with the subset of values pertaining to what constitutes "good mental health" (MH values). Theoretical and empirical attempts to define mental health are first reviewed. Next, the theoretical and research literature pertaining to the role of values in psychotherapy is discussed. A study is described in which national samples of psychotherapists were surveyed about their MH values.The Mental Health Values Questionnaire (MHVQ), a factor-analytically-derived measure of MH values (Tyler et al. 1983) was mailed to 200 systematically selected psychoanalysts, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. Several demographic/professional items were also included. Relationships between these variables and MHVQ scores were examined.A MANOVA and separate univariate ANOVAs were used to assess group differences in MHVQ scores. Data analyses revealed that psychologists obtained higher Self-Acceptance scores than did psychoanalysts. In addition, social workers obtained higher Self-Acceptance scores than either psychoanalysts or psychiatrists. (High Self-Acceptance scores denote that the respondent viewed high levels of this dimension as indicative of good mental health.) Intergroup differences were also obtained on the Untrustworthiness scale. The psychologists associated this dimension with poor mental health to a greater degree than either the analysts or psychiatrists.A main effect for sex was obtained on Affective Control (S4) when the MHVQ data from all four groups was pooled. Male therapists viewed emotional restraint as indicative of good mental health to a greater degree than did females. Separate regression analyses for each group revealed that only the psychologists evidenced sex differences. Male psychologists obtained higher Affective Control scores. The male psychologists also obtained lower Self-Acceptance scores, suggesting that they may be less inclined to view high levels of this dimension as indicative of good mental health.Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed a substantial number of significant associations between demographic/professional variables and MHVQ scores. In the final sections of this paper, the results and their implications for future research are discussed.

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