Construct validity studies of the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/2236-6407.2024.v15.53497Keywords:
psychological assessment, defense mechanisms, quality of life, emotional regulationAbstract
The Defensive Style Questionnaire (DSQ) is a self-report instrument designed to assess defense mechanisms, organized into three categories: Immature, Neurotic, and Mature. This study sought validity evidence based on the internal structure and relationship with external variables in a Brazilian sample (N = 1677) that responded to the DSQ and other mental health measures. Confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the three-factor model. Mature mechanisms were positively associated with emotional regulation, positive affect, and quality of life. Immature mechanisms showed moderate to strong associations with psychological distress, negative affect, loneliness, and alexithymia. The neurotic category showed weaker and more inconsistent associations. The results corroborate validity evidence for the DSQ and indicate that defensive styles are significantly related to other indicators of psychological functioning. Implications for assessment and clinical practice arising from the self-reported nature of the instrument are discussed.
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