The role of self-reflection and insight in the relationship between depressive symptoms and defense mechanisms

The aim of the study is to examine the role of reflection and insight in understanding the relationship between depressive symptoms and defense mechanisms. A total of 377 participants, comprising 192 females and 185 males, took part in the research. Participants first completed a Demographic Information Form, followed by assessment using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40), and Reflection and Insight Scale (RIS). Data were collected via the online platform Google Forms. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS v26 software. Initially, Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to understand the relationships between depressive symptoms, defense mechanisms, reflection, and insight. Subsequently, Independent Samples t-tests and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were performed to comprehend differences between groups. Finally, Multiple Linear Regression Analysis was employed to understand factors predicting defense mechanisms. According to the findings, it was observed that individuals exhibiting depressive symptoms showed a significant impact of insight. Similarly, concerning the relationship between depressive symptoms and defense mechanisms, both immature and mature defense mechanisms had significant effects, whereas neurotic defense mechanisms did not exhibit a significant impact. Furthermore, results from the Multiple Linear Regression analysis revealed a significant negative influence of insight on the relationship between depressive symptoms and immature defense mechanisms. In summary, it was found that individuals exhibiting depressive symptoms tend to use immature defense mechanisms more frequently as their insight decreases. The analysis results are consistent with the literature and show coherence within the theoretical framework.