The Relationship Among Defense Mechanisms, Depression and Anxiety

Abstract

This study quantitatively explores the relationship among defenses mechanisms, depression and anxiety. The sample was 84% female and 16% male between the ages of 18 and 50. There were three types (factors) of defenses mechanisms. Factor 1 refers to “Image Distorting Defenses” such as displacement, undoing, acting out, passive aggression, help rejecting complaining, projective identification, splitting “other, self”, projection and idealization.” Factor 2 consisted of “Affect Regulating Defenses” including isolation, intellectualization, devaluation, repression, dissociation, suppression, denial, affiliation, fantasy, withdrawal. Factor 3 represented “Positive, Adaptive Defenses that included rationalization, self-assertion, altruism, humor, omnipotence, self-observation, anticipation, sublimation, reaction formation. Statistically significant correlations were found between the constellation of Factor 1 defenses and both depression and anxiety.