Two approaches to the measurement of adaptive style: comparison of normal, psychosomatically ill, and delinquent adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
This project evaluated the discriminant validity of two self-report measures of adaptive styles.


METHODS
The Weinberger Adjustment Inventory, which assesses distress, restraint, denial, and repressive defensiveness, and the Bond Defense Style Questionnaire, which assesses immature, neurotic, and mature defenses, were administered to 272 adolescents: normal comparison group boys (n = 63), normal comparison group girls (n = 68), girls with psychosomatic disorders (n = 75), and incarcerated delinquent boys (n = 66). Multivariate analyses of covariance, analyses of covariance, and discriminant analyses (with socioeconomic status and age as covariates) were conducted.


RESULTS
Adaptive styles from the Defense Style Questionnaire differentiated the adolescent groups better than did the Weinberger Adjustment Inventory styles.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of adaptive style by the Defense Style Questionnaire may be a useful adjunct to other measures of psychopathology and can assist in assessment of risk, treatment planning, and treatment progress.
Steiner
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Division of Child Psychiatry and Child Development, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5540.
Feldman
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SS
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010553:Personality Development; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results