The Predictive Ability of Defense Mechanisms and Behavioral Inhibition in Generalized Anxiety Disorder among Jordanian Universities Students

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal the predictive ability of defense mechanisms and behavioral inhibition in generalized anxiety disorder among Jordanian universities students. The sample of the study consisted of (1270) male and female students from Jordanian public universities. To achieve the objectives of the study, the DSQ-28 was used for defense mechanics, and the Scale of Gladstone and Parker (2005) for behavioral inhibition, and a generalized anxiety disorder scale was developed. The results of the study showed that the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder among the students was (10.90%). And it showed that there were differences in the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder among the students according to the gender variable, in favor of females. The results also showed that each of the two variables (mature and immature defense mechanics) have predictive ability to generalized anxiety disorder among the students, while the variables (neurotic defense mechanisms, behavioral inhibition, and gender) have not any predictive ability to generalized anxiety disorder among university students.