The Mediating Role of Defensive Mechanisms in the Relationship between Social Phobia and Alexithymia in University Students

Abstract Introduction: Psychological factors play a key role in peoplechr('39')s emotional responses to different social situations.  Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of defense mechanisms in the relationship between social phobia and alexithymia, in the studen...

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Main Authors: Mansour Nasiri, Reza Donyavi, Yarali Dousti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Guilan University of Medical Sciences 2020-07-01
Series:Journal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery
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Online Access:http://hnmj.gums.ac.ir/article-1-1482-en.html
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author Mansour Nasiri
Reza Donyavi
Yarali Dousti
author_facet Mansour Nasiri
Reza Donyavi
Yarali Dousti
author_sort Mansour Nasiri
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction: Psychological factors play a key role in peoplechr('39')s emotional responses to different social situations.  Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of defense mechanisms in the relationship between social phobia and alexithymia, in the students of Farhangian University, Sari City, Iran.     Materials and Methods: This was an analytical, correlational study that specifically used structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all students of the Farhangian University of Sari city, Iran, in the academic year of 2019-2020. A sample of 234 people was recruited with the available sampling method. The social phobia inventory, defense mechanism questionnaire, and Toronto alexithymia scale were used to measure the research variables. Finally, the proposed model was evaluated using structural equation modeling.   Results: The results showed that social phobia variables, undeveloped defensive mechanisms, and psychotic defensive mechanisms are positively correlated with alexithymia. Also, there is a significant negative correlation between developed defensive style and alexithymia (P = 0.001). The results indicated significant correlations of social phobia (r = 0.28), undeveloped defensive style (r = 0.31), psychotic defensive style (r = 0.28), and developed defensive style (r = -0.30) with alexithymia (P = 0.001). Moreover, the research model was approved: defensive mechanisms mediate the relationship between social phobia and alexithymia in the students. The defensive mechanisms and social phobia affect 48% of the alexithymia variable.    Conclusion: The students with adaptive defensive mechanisms experience lower social phobia and alexithymia symptoms. Also, social phobia indirectly affects alexithymia through the mediating role of defense mechanisms.
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spelling doaj-art-323883dd7f9a49099017f05dc00797af2025-08-20T02:38:56ZengGuilan University of Medical SciencesJournal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery2588-37122588-37202020-07-01304247254The Mediating Role of Defensive Mechanisms in the Relationship between Social Phobia and Alexithymia in University StudentsMansour Nasiri0Reza Donyavi1Yarali Dousti2 Ph.D Condidate of Psychology, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Neka Branch, Islamic Azad University, Neka, Iran Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran Abstract Introduction: Psychological factors play a key role in peoplechr('39')s emotional responses to different social situations.  Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of defense mechanisms in the relationship between social phobia and alexithymia, in the students of Farhangian University, Sari City, Iran.     Materials and Methods: This was an analytical, correlational study that specifically used structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all students of the Farhangian University of Sari city, Iran, in the academic year of 2019-2020. A sample of 234 people was recruited with the available sampling method. The social phobia inventory, defense mechanism questionnaire, and Toronto alexithymia scale were used to measure the research variables. Finally, the proposed model was evaluated using structural equation modeling.   Results: The results showed that social phobia variables, undeveloped defensive mechanisms, and psychotic defensive mechanisms are positively correlated with alexithymia. Also, there is a significant negative correlation between developed defensive style and alexithymia (P = 0.001). The results indicated significant correlations of social phobia (r = 0.28), undeveloped defensive style (r = 0.31), psychotic defensive style (r = 0.28), and developed defensive style (r = -0.30) with alexithymia (P = 0.001). Moreover, the research model was approved: defensive mechanisms mediate the relationship between social phobia and alexithymia in the students. The defensive mechanisms and social phobia affect 48% of the alexithymia variable.    Conclusion: The students with adaptive defensive mechanisms experience lower social phobia and alexithymia symptoms. Also, social phobia indirectly affects alexithymia through the mediating role of defense mechanisms.http://hnmj.gums.ac.ir/article-1-1482-en.htmlsocial phobiaalexithymiadefense mechanisms
spellingShingle Mansour Nasiri
Reza Donyavi
Yarali Dousti
The Mediating Role of Defensive Mechanisms in the Relationship between Social Phobia and Alexithymia in University Students
Journal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery
social phobia
alexithymia
defense mechanisms
title The Mediating Role of Defensive Mechanisms in the Relationship between Social Phobia and Alexithymia in University Students
title_full The Mediating Role of Defensive Mechanisms in the Relationship between Social Phobia and Alexithymia in University Students
title_fullStr The Mediating Role of Defensive Mechanisms in the Relationship between Social Phobia and Alexithymia in University Students
title_full_unstemmed The Mediating Role of Defensive Mechanisms in the Relationship between Social Phobia and Alexithymia in University Students
title_short The Mediating Role of Defensive Mechanisms in the Relationship between Social Phobia and Alexithymia in University Students
title_sort mediating role of defensive mechanisms in the relationship between social phobia and alexithymia in university students
topic social phobia
alexithymia
defense mechanisms
url http://hnmj.gums.ac.ir/article-1-1482-en.html
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