PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFENSE STYLES IN LATE ADOLESCENCE AND YOUNG ADULTHOOD - A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Objective: The aims of this follow-up study were to examine in both se xes (1) the stability of defense styles from late adolescence to early adulthood and (2) the ability oi adolescent defense styles to predict later psychiatric symptoms. Method: Defense styles were examined usin g the Defense Style Questionnaire. Five hundred sixteen high school st udents (337 females and 179 males) completed the questionnaire at 15 t hrough 19 years of age, and again 5 years later. In the follow-up exam ination the General Health Questionnaire was used to assess psychiatri c disturbance. Results: Neurotic and immature defense style scores dec reased significantly in bath sexes, whereas mature defense style score s did not change significantly. Females had significantly higher neuro tic defense style scores than males in both late adolescence and young adulthood. Psychiatric disturbance at follow-up was associated positi vely with baseline immature defense style scores in both sexes, and ne gatively with baseline mature defense style scores in females. Conclus ions: Development of defenses was apparent- as a decrease in neurotic and immature defense style scores. In both sexes, immaturity bf defens es in late adolescence predicted psychiatric symptoms in young adultho od.