Comparison between Psychological Resiliency and Defense Mechanisms in the Military and Ordinary People

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran

2 Department of Literature, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the present study was to compare between psychological resiliency and defense mechanisms in military and non-military individuals.

Methods: This research is a case-control study. The study sample is consisted of 100 members (50 military and 50 non-military) which were randomly selected by cluster sampling method. After the selection and random assignment into 2 groups, Conner-Davidson Resilience scale (CD-RISC) and defense style questionnaire (DSQ – 40) were used in one stage for 2 groups. For the analyses of the data, multivariate analysis of covariance and SPSS software were used.

Results: The results showed that non-military individuals had a higher mean in four immature defense mechanisms; rationalization, devaluation, acting out and autistic fantasy than the military individuals. In the mature defense mechanisms, the military individuals had a higher mean than the non-military. In the neuroticism defense mechanisms, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant only in the pseudo-altruism. Also, the military individuals were higher in Psychological resiliency than the non-military individuals (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The results showed that military individuals with more psychological resiliency, generally tend to use more efficacy, mature and adaptive mechanisms for coping.

Keywords

Journal of Military Medicine
Volume 18, Issue 2 - Serial Number 64
September and October 2016
Pages 207-214

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