The role of self-concept and defense mechanisms on predicting symptoms of adult separation anxiety disorder in university samples

The aim of the present research was to examine the relationship between self-concept and defense mechanisms in adult separation anxiety disorder. The present research was performed with 380 students of Mohaghegh Ardabili University and Islamic Azad University of Ardabil with convenience sampling method using Adult separation anxiety disorder, defense mechanism and self-concept scales. The data were analyzed with Pearson correlation method and step way regression. The results showed that there were positive relationships between adult separation anxiety disorder with negative self-concept and negative relationship with positive self-concept, also, negative relationship with mature defense mechanism, and positive relationship with immature and neurotic defense mechanism. The results of the step way regression analysis showed that immature, neurotic, mature defense mechanisms and self-concept were predictors of adult separation anxiety disorder, respectively. The findings of the present study indicate the research evidence for more accurate diagnosis of this disorder and identify the psychoanalytic variables associated with it.