Examining the relationship between object relations and defense mechanisms of adult individuals and their romantic relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction

The aim of this study is to examine relationship components such as relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction experienced by adults in their relationships or marriages within the framework of object relations and defense mechanisms they use. For this purpose, it is aimed to examine the processes that individuals experience in their relationships psychodynamically, depending on the perspective of defense mechanisms and object relations. It was also aimed to examine the relationship between study variables and socio-demographic characteristics of the participants. The sample of the study consists of a total of 160 adult individuals, 80 women and 80 men, who lived in Istanbul in 2020 and had a romantic relationship or were married at the time of the study. Personal Information Form, Bell Object Relations and Reality Assessment Inventory, Defense Forms Test, Relationship Satisfaction Scale and Golombok Rust Sexual Satisfaction Scale were used as data collection tools in the study. The data was collected by presenting the scale set to the participants and answering them themselves. SPSS package program was used to analyze the obtained data and the results obtained are presented in the findings section. According to the results obtained as a result of the research, as the level of alienation, insecure attachment and egocentrism among the object relations subscales increases, the relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction levels of adult individuals decrease. On the other hand, according to the relationship between adult individuals' defense mechanisms, relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction levels, it was found that individuals who use immature and neurotic defense mechanisms have lower relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction levels than individuals who use mature defense mechanisms more intensively. In addition, when the relationship between relationship duration and relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction is examined within the framework of the study hypotheses, it is seen that there is a significant relationship between relationship duration and relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction. All results obtained are presented in the study together with the relevant literature.