Published Paper Details:

Objective: To find out the relationship between emotion regulation strategies and ego defence styles among caregivers of patients with mood disorders. Methodology: A descriptive study was conducted in the psychiatric ward and outpatient department of Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi. Caregivers of patients with mood disorders (80) meeting the eligibility criteria were selected using purposive sampling. The data was collected by using the following tools: Tool 1: Structured socio-demographic profile of caregiver, Tool 2: Defence Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40), Tool 3: Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Analysis was done by using Inferential and Descriptive statistics. Results: Mature and neurotic ego defence mechanisms were having significant positive correlation with cognitive reappraisal and emotional suppression emotional regulation strategy. Even though immature ego defence mechanisms were not significantly correlated with the emotional regulation strategies, rationalization, projection, denial, acting out, displacement as immature ego defences were positively correlated with cognitive reappraisal emotional regulation strategy. Isolation as immature ego defences were positively correlated with emotional suppression emotional regulation strategy and displacement as immature ego defences were negatively correlated with emotional suppression emotional regulation strategy. Conclusion: From the present study it can be concluded that defence styles may be at least perceptible with regard to emotional regulation strategies of caregivers of patients with mood disorders. Therefore emotion regulation might be improved through adopting appropriate mature defence styles in order to balance the role as a caregiver.