Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Lal Lawmzuali ¹
• Ramya Bhaskar ²
• Natarajan Vasugi ³

¹ Department of Human Development, Research Scholar, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India-641043

² Department of Human Development, Faculty of Home Science, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India 641043

³ Dean Student Affair, Faculty of Home Science, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India 641043

Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the predictive role of defense mechanisms on personality traits. Adolescents (891), aged between 17 and 19 years from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, selected through a systematic random sampling method, during the academic year 2023-2024. The Eysenck Personality Inventory and a self-developed scale on defense mechanisms were analysed by SPSS 30 and Jamovi 2.6.44, 2025. The defense mechanism scale was validated through principal component analysis, resulting in 11 components with 30 items, with a factor loading threshold of 0.4. The scale demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .751), an adequate KMO (0.716), significant Bartlett's test of sphericity, and a 51.150 cumulative percentage. An r value of 0.991 in test-retest indicated excellent reliability, and CFA (SEM)- Comparative Fit Index (CFI) showed .902, TLI, .900; Parsimony Comparative Fit Index (PNFI) .621, which is greater than 0.50 confirmed good fit. The findings of linear regression analysis depicted that reaction formation was a common defense mechanism among adolescents and significantly predicted introversion and neuroticism, denial was the least used defense mechanism. Rationalization and projection were significant predictors of extroversion, whereas mature defense, like sublimation, was found to be the predictor of stable personality traits.

Keywords

• Adolescents
• defense mechanisms
• and personality traits