Coping style and defence mechanisms among traumatized and non-traumatized adolescents in Malaysia

• Main Authors: Ghazali, S.R, Ask, Elklit, Yoke Yong, Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: IJCRR 2021
• Subjects: BF Psychology
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/36521/1/defence1.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/36521/; https://www.ijcrr.com/articlesSearch.php; http://dx.doi.org/10.31782/IJCRR.2021.SP121

ABSTRACT Background: Coping and psychological defence skills are frequently used when individuals experience trauma, stress, and anxiety. Objective: To examine the roles of Coping and psychological defence skills in traumatized adolescents exhibiting post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Methods: A sample of 1016 adolescents aged 12 to 17 answered the Coping Style Questionnaire-3, Defence Style Question - naire-40, Traumatic Event Checklist, Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Results: Results showed that traumatized adolescents significantly used all coping styles: emotional focused, avoidance, ra - tional, and detached. Similarly, adolescents with PTSD symptoms significantly used all the coping styles than those without PTSD symptoms: emotional focused, avoidance, rational and detached. Traumatized adolescents significantly used immature style, mature style than non-traumatized adolescents. Similarly, adolescents with PTSD symptoms significantly used immature defence style, mature style and neurotic style. Conclusion: Traumatized adolescents demonstrate a greater use of avoidance coping style, whereas non-traumatized adolescents tends to use rational coping strategies.