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. 2025 Jul;51(2):217–251. doi: 10.1017/amj.2025.10066

Table 5.

The degree to which mental health evaluators (N=37) report adjusting their approach to assessing credibility based on different factors, alongside how much mental health evaluators (N=38) and legal professionals (N=77) perceive that adjudicators adjust their approach based on different factors. 109 Reported as mean (sd)

How Much Are Different Factors Taken Into Account When Assessing Credibility?
Factor Mental Health Evaluators Evaluators’ Perception of Adjudicator Legal Professionals’ Perception of Adjudicators
Cultural Factors 4.16 (0.69) 2.25 (0.61) 2.21 (0.82)
Types of Harm/Trauma Experienced 4.14 (0.79) 2.72 (0.84) 3.03 (1.05)
Gender-related Factors 4.11 (0.74) 2.33 (0.92) 2.57 (0.98)
Religious Factors 3.73 (0.96) 2.5 (0.98) 2.51 (0.97)
Linguistic Factors 4.05 (0.97) 2.32 (0.75) 2.32 (0.84)
Medical Factors 3.74 (0.92) 3.19 (1.17) 3.12 (1.1)
Disability Status 3.73 (1.04) 3 (1.09) 2.88 (1.13)
Prior Criminal History/Interactions with Criminal Justice
System 3.25 (1.19) 4.16 (1.14) 3.99 (1.08)
Other 4.4 (0.55) 2.5 (0.71) 4 (NA)