What is the relationship between alexithymia and ego defense styles? A correlational study with Iranian students

Mohammad Ali Besharat; Shahriar Shahidi

doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2011.05.011

What is the relationship between alexithymia and ego defense styles? A correlational study with Iranian students

Asian J Psychiatr. 2011 Jun;4(2):145-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2011.05.011. Epub 2011 Jun 10.

Authors

Mohammad Ali Besharat¹, Shahriar Shahidi

Affiliation

¹ Professor of Clinical Psychology Department of Psychology University of Tehran, Iran.

PMID: 23051083
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2011.05.011

Abstract

The relationship between alexithymia and ego defense styles was investigated in a sample of Iranian students. The association between the components of alexithymia including difficulty in identifying and describing feelings and externally oriented thinking with ego defense styles including mature, neurotic, and immature defense styles was investigated in two hundred and eighty six students in the University of Tehran. All participants were asked to complete the Farsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (FTAS-20) and Defense Styles Questionnaire (DSQ). Results showed that there was a significant negative correlation between alexithymia and mature defense style as well as a significant positive association with neurotic and immature defense styles. It is concluded that alexithymia is associated with ego defense mechanisms. Results are discussed in terms of the implications of the present results in terms of designing possible modification and intervention programmes as well as answering important theoretical questions.