Defense mechanisms and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in bereaved individuals: A network analysis.

IF 1.8 4区医学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Death Studies Pub Date : 2025-09-10 DOI:10.1080/07481187.2025.2556112

Serena Giunta, Alberto Sardella, Pasquale Caponnetto, Maria C Quattropani, Vittorio Lenzo

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Abstract

This study explored the network relationships between defense mechanisms and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of 327 Italian bereaved adults (M = 46.92, SD = 14.66). The 30-item Defense Mechanism Rating Scales Self-Report (DMRS-SR-30) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were administered. The network revealed a dense structure comprising 39 significant edges. High adaptive defenses emerged as the most central and influential node, showing strong negative associations with depression and anxiety symptoms. Minor image-distorting defenses were negatively associated with depression but positively related to anxiety. Stability analyses indicated acceptable overall reliability. However, some edges showed lower stability and should be interpreted with caution. These findings underscore the pivotal role of high adaptive defenses in emotional regulation following bereavement and suggest differential contributions of defense levels to psychological symptoms. Future research is needed to further investigate these associations.

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丧亲个体的抑郁、焦虑和压力的防御机制和症状：网络分析。

本研究以327名意大利成年人为样本（M = 46.92, SD = 14.66），探讨防御机制与抑郁、焦虑和压力症状之间的网络关系。采用30项防御机制评定量表自我报告（DMRS-SR-30）和抑郁焦虑压力量表-21 （DASS-21）。该网络显示了一个由39个重要边组成的密集结构。高适应性防御是最核心和最具影响力的节点，与抑郁和焦虑症状表现出强烈的负相关。轻微的图像扭曲防御与抑郁呈负相关，但与焦虑呈正相关。稳定性分析表明总体可靠性可接受。然而，一些边缘显示出较低的稳定性，应谨慎解释。这些发现强调了高适应性防御在丧亲后情绪调节中的关键作用，并表明防御水平对心理症状的不同贡献。未来的研究需要进一步调查这些关联。

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来源期刊

Death Studies Multiple-

CiteScore

8.30

自引率

7.90%

发文量

期刊介绍： Now published ten times each year, this acclaimed journal provides refereed papers on significant research, scholarship, and practical approaches in the fast growing areas of bereavement and loss, grief therapy, death attitudes, suicide, and death education. It provides an international interdisciplinary forum in which a variety of professionals share results of research and practice, with the aim of better understanding the human encounter with death and assisting those who work with the dying and their families.