Naslov
Coping with defense mechanisms and defending our coping styles - what do people use to achieve stress free mind?

Autori
Tucak Junaković, Ivana ; Smolić-Ročak, Anđela ; Pavela, Irena

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, neobjavljeni rad, znanstveni

Skup
24th EFPSA Congress

Mjesto i datum
Baarlo, Nizozemska, 18.04.2010. - 25.04.2010

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
defense mechanisms ; coping strategies ; stress ; sex differences

Sažetak
Psychologists have always been interested in the way people deal with their problems in everyday life and protect themselves from stress. One of these ways is the usage of defense mechanisms. Their purpose is to change, transform and simply defend people from disturbing thoughts, feelings and perceptions which lead to extreme anxiety. Vaillant divides defense mechanisms into four main categories: psychotic defenses, immature defenses, neurotic defenses and mature defenses. Another way implies the use of coping strategies which include self-regulated behaviors. These behaviors are sometimes conceptualized as a cognitive style, but they are often defined as a way of problem solving, information interpretation or constructive thinking. Basic strategies include problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping and avoiding. The main goal of this study is to investigate relationship between defense mechanisms and coping strategies. 158 subjects (M=63, F=95) filled out Defense Mechanism Questionnaire (DSQ-40) (Andrews et.al., 1989) and a Croatian adaptation of the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced scale (COPE) (Carver, Scheier & Weintraub, 1989 ; Hudek-Knezevic & Kardum, 1993). Subject were mainly students with the average age of 21, 7 (SD=1, 97). Results have shown that the use of mature defense mechanisms is the most frequent one, followed by the use of neurotic and immature mechanisms. Furthermore, subjects use problem- focused coping the most often, and less avoiding and emotion-focused coping. Moreover, results have shown sex differences in using this two ways of dealing with stress. First, women more often use mature and neurotic defense mechanisms than men. Second, men are more prone to use avoiding strategies. On the contrary, there are no sex differences in using immature mechanisms. Also, a correlation has been found between defense mechanisms and coping strategies. Specifically, positive correlation is obtained between mature mechanisms and problem-focused strategies, and between immature mechanisms and avoiding. To sum up, there is a correlation between coping strategies and defense mechanisms, as well as significant sex differences in using both of the ways of dealing with stress.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

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