title: Do spinal cord-injured individuals with stronger sense of coherence use different psychological defense styles?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the importance of sense of coherence (SOC) and psychological defense mechanisms (PDMs) in the process of coping has been demonstrated, it has not yet been clarified whether individuals with stronger SOC use specific PDMs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic and injury-related variables including injury level, time since injury, American Spinal Cord Association (ASIA) Scale and Spinal cord independence measure-III were collected among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). SOC was assessed by the Short-form Sense of Coherence Scale. PDMs were identified using 40-version of the Defense Style Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neurotic defense style was the most commonly used style especially. The overall most commonly used PDM was 'rationalization', which was used by 95%. Individuals with stronger SOC used more mature style (P=0.001, r=0.52), particularly 'humor' and 'suppression' mechanisms (P<0.0001 and 0.024, respectively). There was a negative correlation between stronger SOC and the use of immature defenses including passive aggression (P=0.001, r=-0.51), acting out (P=0.001, r=-0.48), isolation (P=0.009, r=-0.50), autistic fantasy (P=0.010, r=-0.30) and somatization (P<0.0001, r=-0.62). Married individuals had significantly stronger SOC (P=0.01). Age, gender, age at the time of injury incidence, time since injury, ASIA score and cause of injury were not determinants of SOC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, PDMs, which are more probable to be used by individuals with stronger SOC, have been identified. Mature defenses including 'humor' and 'suppression' are used by stronger SOC more often, whereas immature mechanisms are less likely to be used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Farabi Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shakeri
authors.affiliation: Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yazdanshenas Ghazwin
authors.affiliation: Islamic Ahvaz University, Ahvaz Branch, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rakizadeh
authors.affiliation: Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moshari
authors.affiliation: Shahid Hasheminejad Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sharbatdaralaei
authors.affiliation: Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Latifi
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrist, Iranian Tissue Bank & Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S A H
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult