DEFENSE-MECHANISMS IN ADOLESCENTS AS A FUNCTION OF AGE, SEX, AND MENTAL-HEALTH STATUS

Objective: To modify an existing instrument to provide a valid assessm ent of defense mechanisms in adolescents and to examine defense struct ure and usage as a function of age, sex, and mental health status. Met hod: Six hundred ninety-three subjects (187 nonclinic adolescents, 229 internalizing females, 99 incarcerated male delinquents, and 178 nonc linic adults) completed the modified Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ) , which yielded 19 defense scores. Results: Factor analyses of the 19 defense scores on the adolescent sample yielded three factors: Immatur e, Mature, and Prosocial Defenses. These were similar to those from st udies of adults. Additional factor analyses were conducted on defense scores of subjects grouped by age, sex, and mental health status. The Immature and Mature Factors were relatively consistent across groups, but the Prosocial Factor varied by group. Multivariate analyses of var iance and analyses of variance on individual and composite defense sco res revealed differences by age, sex, and mental health status. Conclu sions: Although the modified DSQ needs further work to improve its psy chometric properties, it is clearly fruitful to assess adolescent defe nse mechanisms. Results from extant studies of adults and males on the structure of defenses cannot be validly extrapolated to other age gro ups and to females.