The Relationships Between Defenses and Experiences of Depression: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between defenses and depressive experiences. Two questionnaires, in counterbalanced order, were administered to a community sample of 205 adults: the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ; Blatt et al., 1976, 1979) and the Defense Mechanisms Inventory (DMI; Ihilevich & Gleser, 1986). Although turning against self related significantly to both depressive experiences of Dependency, especially the less mature Neediness as compared to more mature Connectedness, and Self-Criticism, other types of defenses, as measured by the DMI, differentiated between interpersonal and self-critical experiences of depression. Results are discussed from psychodynamic and developmental perspectives.