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[The Life Style Index: correlations with psychological distress and hostility]
T Hyphantis1, G D Floros, P Goulia
1Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece. tyfantis@cc.uoi.gr
Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki
|October 6, 2011
Summary
This study validates the Greek Life Style Index (LSI) by examining defense mechanisms in relation to psychological distress and hostility across diverse populations. Findings highlight defense mechanisms
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies used to cope with distress.
- The Life Style Index (LSI) assesses defense mechanisms, linking them to emotional states and diagnostic concepts.
- Investigating the Greek version of the LSI is crucial for its psychometric validation in diverse populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the Life Style Index (LSI).
- To investigate the relationship between specific defense mechanisms and psychological distress.
- To explore the association of defense mechanisms with hostility features in healthy adults, medical patients, and psychiatric patients.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 1261 adult participants (healthy, medical patients, psychiatric patients).
- Assessment of defense mechanisms using the Life Style Index (LSI).
- Measurement of psychological distress with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and hostility with the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire (HDHQ).
Main Results:
- Increased psychological distress correlated with most defenses, except Denial, which showed a negative association.
- Regression was linked to psychological distress, differentiating psychiatric patients.
- Compensation and Reaction Formation related to depressive symptoms; Repression worsened distress in medical patients; Projection was detrimental in psychiatric and healthy samples.
Conclusions:
- The Greek version of the LSI demonstrates strengthened validity.
- Defense mechanisms are significantly related to psychological distress and hostility dimensions across populations.
- Empirical assessment of defense mechanisms aids in understanding factors influencing medical and psychiatric disorders.
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