Comparison of defense mechanisms, psychological toughness and social adjustment of male and female students

Abstract

The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing defense mechanisms, psychological toughness and social adjustment of male and female students. This research was in the form of a causal-comparative descriptive design. For this purpose, 200 students (100 boys and 100 girls) were selected from all the students of Azad University of Tehran branch in the academic year 1401-1402 by multi-stage cluster random sampling method. Data was collected using a questionnaire. The analysis of findings through multiway analysis of variance and independent t test showed that there is a significant difference between defense mechanisms, psychological toughness and social adjustment of male and female students (P<0.05). Female students have higher social adjustment than boys and have a higher average in developed defense mechanisms and a lower average in underdeveloped defense mechanisms than boys; But there was no significant difference between male and female students' neurotic defense mechanisms. Also, there is a significant difference between male and female students' psychological toughness (control, commitment, and challenge-seeking), and boys have higher psychological toughness than girls. According to the results, it should be said that there is a difference between the defense mechanisms, psychological toughness and social adaptation of students based on gender, so this can be used as a suitable theoretical basis for the development of programs and educational-therapeutic interventions in universities.