Tuyển tập báo cáo các nghiên cứu khoa học quốc tế ngành y học dành cho các bạn tham khảo đề tài: Ego defense mechanisms in Pakistani medical students: a cross sectional analysis | Parekh et al. BMC Psychiatry 2010 10 12 http 1471-244X 10 12 BMC Psychiatry RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Ego defense mechanisms in Pakistani medical students a cross sectional analysis Maria A Parekh1 Hina Majeed2 Tuba R Khan2 Anum B Khan2 Salman Khalid2 Nadia M Khwaja2 Roha Khalid2 Mohammad A Khan2 Ibrahim M Rizqui2 Imtiaz Jehan3 Abstract Background Ego defense mechanisms or factors defined by Freud as unconscious resources used by the ego to reduce conflict between the id and superego are a reflection of how an individual deals with conflict and stress. This study assesses the prevalence of various ego defense mechanisms employed by medical students of Karachi which is a group with higher stress levels than the general population. Methods A questionnaire based cross-sectional study was conducted on 682 students from five major medical colleges of Karachi over 4 weeks in November 2006. Ego defense mechanisms were assessed using the Defense Style Questionnaire DSQ-40 individually and as grouped under Mature Immature and Neurotic factors. Results Lower mean scores of Immature defense mechanisms were identified than those for Neurotic and Mature mechanisms among medical students of Karachi. Immature mechanisms were more commonly employed by males whereas females employed more Neurotic mechanisms than males. Neurotic and Immature defenses were significantly more prevalent in first and second year students. Mature mechanisms were significantly higher in students enrolled in Government colleges than Private institutions p . Conclusions Immature defense mechanisms were less commonly employed than Neurotic and Mature mechanisms among medical students of Karachi. The greater employment of Neurotic defenses may reflect greater stress levels than the general population. Employment of these mechanisms was associated with female gender enrollment in a private medical college and students enrolled in the first 2 years of medical school.
