Structural equation model of relationships between personality organization and emotional breakdown based on the mediating role of defense mechanisms

Background: The breakdown of emotional relationships is one of the most tragic events in life. The loss of love at a young age is one of the biggest blows to one's ego, self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the fitness of the structural equation model of relationships between personality organization and emotional breakdown based on the mediating role of defense mechanisms. Methods: This applied research was conducted based on a descriptive-correlational design with a structural equation model. The statistical population of this study included all adolescent girls with an emotional breakdown in the academic year of 2019-20 in Nurabad. The sample consisted of 250 people who were selected via the purposive sampling method. Data were collected using the love trauma syndrome questionnaire (Ross, 1999), personality organization questionnaire (Kernberg, 2002), and defense mechanisms questionnaire (Andrews et al., 1993). Data were analyzed in SPSS.22 and AMOS.22 software using Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation model. A p-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Based on the results, personality organization had an indirect effect on the emotional breakdown. Therefore, the indirect relationship between the research variables with a 95% confidence was confirmed (P<0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that personality organization plays a mediating role in the relationship between defense mechanisms and emotional breakdown.