Predicting Anxiety Symptoms Based on Confrontation With Existential Issues: The Moderating Role of Defense Mechanisms Journal Article

Writer: Besharat، Mohammad Ali ؛ Zarei، Vahid ؛ Motavalli Haghi، Seyed Ali ؛

Corresponding Author: Khadem، Hossein ؛

Practice in Clinical Psychology Autumn 2019، Volume 7 - Number 4 ، Science-Research/ISC (‎10 page(s) - From 235 to 244 )

Keywords: anxiety Meaning death Freedom Responsibility Existentialism loneliness defense mechanisms

Abstract:

Objective One of the most common and recent highlighted psychological problems is anxiety symptoms. This study investigated the moderating role of defense mechanisms in the relationship between confrontation with existential issues (death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness) and anxiety. Methods A total of 389 students (218 men and 171 women) of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, in the academic year 2017-2018 were randomly selected as the research sample. In this study, anxiety symptoms, death anxiety, loneliness, meaning in life, responsibility, and defense style were measured. The obtained data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation test and stepwise and hierarchical regression analysis. Results Mature and immature defense mechanisms moderated the prediction of anxiety symptoms by confrontation with loneliness and responsibility. Neurotic defense mechanisms moderated the prediction of anxiety symptoms by confrontation with death, anxiety, loneliness, and responsibility. Conclusion Defense mechanisms affect the amount of relationship between confrontation with existential issues and anxiety.

Machine summary:

October 2019, Volume 7, Number 4 Research Paper: Predicting Anxiety Symptoms Based on Confrontation With Existential Issues: The Moderating Role of Defense Mechanisms Mohammad Ali Besharat1 /, Hossein Khadem2* /, Vahid Zarei3 /, Seyed Ali Motavalli Haghi4 / 1. 235 Article info: Received: 10 Apr 2019 Accepted: 23 Aug 2019 Available Online: 01 Oct 2019 Keywords: Existentialism, Anxiety, Defense mechanisms, Death, Freedom, Responsibility, Loneliness, Meaning ABSTRACT Objective: One of the most common and recent highlighted psychological problems is anxiety symptoms. This study investigated the moderating role of defense mechanisms in the relationship between confrontation with existential issues (death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness) and anxiety. Results: Mature and immature defense mechanisms moderated the prediction of anxiety symptoms by confrontation with loneliness and responsibility. Feeling lonely not only has a significant positive correla-tion with anxiety symptoms (Gallagher, Prinstein, Simon & Spirito, 2014; Ostovar, Allahyar, Aminpoor, Moafian, Nor, & Griffiths, 2016) but also can predict these symptoms (Muyan, Chang, Jilani, Yu, Lin, & Hirsch, 2016). On the oth-er hand, immature and neurotic defense mechanisms can lead to the symptoms of anxiety (Colovic, Tosevski, Mladenovic, Milosavljevic & Munjiza, 2016; Freud, 2018; Punamäki, Kanninen, Qouta & El-Sarraj, 2002; Waqas, 2015). This scale is a valid instrument for assessing the symptoms of negative emotions, the reliability and va-lidity of which have been confirmed in multiple studies (Antony, Bieling, Cox, Enns & Swinson, 1998; Brown, Chorpita, Korotitsch & Barlow, 1997; Daza, Novy, Stan-ley & Averill, 2002; Lovibond, 1998; Norton, 2007).

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