Major Depressive Disorder among Jordanian ‎Universitie’s Students: Prevalence and ‎Predicteing Defense Mechanisms

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the prevalence rate of major depressive disorder among Jordanian universitie’s students and its predicting defense mechanisms. To achieve the objectives of the study, the (DSQ-28) measure was used for defense mechanisms, and a major depressive disorder scale was developed. The sample of the study consisted of (1270) male and female students from Jordanian universities. The results of the study showed that the prevalence rate of major depressive disorder among students was (11.97%) and that the percentage of males who have major depressive disorder was (10.96%) which the percentage in females was (12.93%). The value of chi square  indicates that they are no significant differences in the prevalence of major depressive disorder according to the gender variable. It indicated that there were differences in mature defense mechanisms among students due to the gender variable, in favor of males, while there were no differences in defense mechanisms (neurotic, immature) due to the gender variable. The results also showed that the two variables (mature defense mechanisms and immature defense mechanisma) have a predictive ability for major depressive disorder among university students, while the neurotic defense mechanisms variable did not have any predictive ability for major depressive disorder among university students. The results also indicated that the overall percentage for the males sample (with disorder, no disorder) was (90.40%) for the two classification groups and there were (36) views that were misclassified, while the probability of total error was about (9.60%). The Overall Percentage for the females’ sample (with disorder, no disorder) was (87.40%) for the two classification groups and there were (113) views that were misclassified, while the probability of total error was about (12.60%).