پیش بینی سبک‌های دفاعی نوجوانان براساس راهبردهای مقابله ای با میانجی‌گری ارضای نیازهای بنیادین روانشناختی

objective: The present study aimed to predict adolescents’ defense mechanisms based on coping strategies, with the mediating role of basic psychological needs satisfaction.

Method: This research employed descriptive-correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population included all female high school students (second level) from two districts of Tehran during the 2022–2023 year. A total of 125 students were selected through multistage cluster sampling from two schools in districts 2 and 5. Data were collected using the Defense Style Questionnaire by Andrews and Bond, the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations by Endler and Parker, and the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Questionnaire . Path analysis was used for data analysis, and AMOS and SPSS software were employed for statistical computations.

Results: The results indicated significant relationships among the three variables: defense mechanisms, coping strategies, and basic psychological needs. Emotion-focused coping strategies were positively associated with immature defense mechanisms, while problem-focused coping strategies showed a significant positive relationship with mature defense mechanisms. A significant positive relationship was also found between problem-focused coping and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs. However, the relationship between neurotic and immature defense mechanisms and basic psychological needs satisfaction was not statistically significant. Furthermore, the findings revealed an indirect relationship between both emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies and mature defense mechanisms, mediated by basic psychological needs satisfaction.

Conclusion: Basic psychological needs play a critical mediating role in how adolescents manage life stressors. Satisfaction of these needs significantly influences the coping mechanisms employed by adolescents when confronting challenges.