Structural Model of Predicting Suicidal Thoughts in Adolescents Based on Defense Mechanisms with the Mediating Role of Emotional and Interpersonal Difficulties
Keywords:
Emotion regulation, Suicide, Interpersonal difficulty, Defense mechanismsAbstract
The aim of the present study was to determine the structural model of predicting suicidal thoughts in adolescents based on defense mechanisms with the mediating role of emotional and interpersonal difficulties. This research employed a descriptive-correlational design, and the statistical population consisted of all adolescents in Tehran during the second semester of the 2023–2024 academic year. A total of 443 individuals were selected through convenience sampling. Research instruments included the Defense Style Questionnaire-40 (Andrews, Singh, & Bond, 1993), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (Gratz & Roemer, 2004), the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-47 (Pilkonis, Kim, Proietti, & Barkham, 1996), and the Suicidal Cognitions Scale (Rudd et al., 2010). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. In this study, the indirect path coefficient between mature defense mechanisms and suicidal thoughts (β = -0.339, p = .01), and between immature defense mechanisms and suicidal thoughts (β = 0.255, p = .01), was statistically significant at the .01 level. Therefore, suicidal thoughts in adolescents can be predicted based on defense mechanisms, considering the mediating role of emotional and interpersonal difficulties.
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