Women’s Health Bulletin

Women’s Health Bulletin

Suicidal Thoughts, Defense Mechanisms, Mindfulness, and Emotional Intelligence in Female Students

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Zahra Zarei 1
Mahin Eksir 2
Bahareh Boustani 3
Maryam Siami Alighialou 1
Atefeh Pouraskar Borazjani 1
1 Department of Clinical Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz Branch, Shiraz, Iran
2 Islamic Azad University, Shiraz Branch, Shiraz, Iran
3 Department of Clinical Psychology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
10.30476/whb.2026.106429.1347
Abstract
Background: Suicidal ideation is a significant mental health challenge among female college students. Psychological factors such as defense mechanisms, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence play important roles in how individuals cope with stress and emotional distress. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between suicidal ideation, defense mechanisms, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence in this population.
Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted with a convenience sample of 97 female students at Islamic Azad University in Shiraz, Iran, from April to May, 2024. Participants completed validated measures of mindfulness (FFMQ), defense mechanisms (DSQ), emotional intelligence (EIQ), and the Multi-Attitude Suicide Tendency Scale (MAST). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression (enter method) in SPSS version 26.
Results: Several defense mechanisms demonstrated significant positive associations with suicidal ideation (P<0.05), including rationalization, projection, denial, omnipotence, devaluation, acting-out, somatization, layering, passive-aggression, displacement, isolation, suppression, and sublimation. Higher levels of these defense mechanisms were associated with greater suicidal ideation. Acting-out (B=0.38) and passive-aggression (B=0.38) had the strongest effects. In contrast, fantasy and autistic thinking were not significantly related to suicidal ideation. Autistic fantasizing was negatively associated with suicidal ideation (B= −0.24, P=0.001), while humor showed a marginal negative association (P=0.08). Additionally, higher emotional intelligence was significantly associated with lower suicidal ideation (B= −0.25, P=0.001). Higher emotional intelligence was also significantly associated with lower levels of suicidal ideation (B= −0.25, P=0.001).
Conclusions: This study demonstrated that a wide array of defense mechanisms—including denial, omnipotence, devaluation, acting-out, somatization, layering, passive-aggression, displacement, isolation, anticipation, false-otherness, reaction-formation, and rationalization—are directly associated with increased suicidal ideation. These findings suggest that the utilization of such maladaptive defenses may exacerbate suicidal tendencies, whereas higher emotional intelligence serves as a significant protective factor in mitigating suicidal ideation.
Keywords
Suicidal Thoughts
Defense Mechanisms
Mindfulness
Emotional Intelligence
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