Can defense styles predict psychopathology in adolescents?

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate whether defense mechanism styles can predict psychopathology in different areas, in adolescents. One hundred and thirty six adolescents (51 males, 85 females) were included in this study. Data was collected using Youth Self-report (YSR) form Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) in order to diagnose psychological and behavioural problems in the participants and Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40) in order to examine defense styles. The results showed that participants with mature defenses showed no problems in social, thought and attention areas whereas immature defense showed significant relationships with thought and social problems while neurotic defenses have been significantly related with only social problems. Anxious/depressed and withdrawn/depressed from syndrome scales and oppositional problems from DSM- oriented scales accounted for the most variance in immature defenses. Anxious/depressed, aggressive behaviour, and conduct problems accounted for the most variance in neurotic defenses. It can be concluded that different defense styles can determine different behavioural and psychological problems in the adolescents