Ego defense mechanisms in Pakistani medical students: a cross sectional analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ego defense mechanisms (or factors), defined by Freud as unconscious resources used by the ego to reduce conflict between the id and superego, are a reflection of how an individual deals with conflict and stress. This study assesses the prevalence of various ego defense mechanisms employed by medical students of Karachi, which is a group with higher stress levels than the general population.

Methods

A questionnaire based cross-sectional study was conducted on 682 students from five major medical colleges of Karachi over 4 weeks in November 2006. Ego defense mechanisms were assessed using the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40) individually and as grouped under Mature, Immature, and Neurotic factors.

Results

Lower mean scores of Immature defense mechanisms

SUBMITTER: Parekh MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2836996 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature