S u m m a r y

 

Raitasalo R, Knekt P, Kaarento K, Laine H & Lindfors O (2005)

Sense of coherence and immature defenses

Psykologia 40:164-172. Vammala ISSN 0355-1067.

 

The relation between sense of coherence and personality factors is not well known. Therefore this study focused on the association between sense of coherence and immature defenses. The data consisted of 367 individuals participating from1994-2000 in the Helsinki Psychotherapy Study. Sense of coherence was measured using the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC) and immature defenses by the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ). Sense of coherence was inversely related to immature defenses with a mean level of 122 in the lowest and 104 in the highest quartile of DSQ (P<0.001). Adjustment for psychiatric symptoms (SCL-90) and patients object relationships (QORS) did not notably alter the results. The coexistence of deficits in defensive functioning and sense of coherence was non-significantly pronounced in patients with the most severe symptoms of depression. Thus, the sense of coherence was associated with unconscious personality factors suggesting that sense of coherence and immature defenses measure different aspects of coping ability.

 

 

Key words: sense of coherence, immature defenses, depression, anxiety, coping.

 

 

Raimo Raitasalo, Docent, Senior researcher, The Social Insurance Institution, PO Box 450,

FIN-00101 Helsinki, Finland