Ego Strength Scale Research Articles

Students Achievement Strategies, Ego Strength, Hostility and the Role of Perceived Parenting on School Environment

School environment is associated with ego strength and hostility, while perceived parenting modifies the relationship between ego strength and hostility. School Connectedness Scale, The Strategy and Attribution Questionnaire, The Parental Bonding Inventory, Barron’s Ego Strength Scale, and The Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory were used for assessing school environment, students' achievement strategies, perceived parenting, ego strength, and hostility. A structural equational model was administered to investigate the mediation effect of perceived parenting. The findings indicated that school environment was significantly associated with ego strength B = 0.28, p< 0.001, and hostility B = 0.34, p< 0.001. Perceived parenting mediates the relationship between ego strength B = 0.375, p< 0.001, and hostility B = 0.136, p< 0.05. Perceived parenting plays a crucial role in student achievement strategies and developing an impactful ego strength and helps reduce hostile behaviors while positive parenting modifies the association of ego strength and hostility in the school environment.

Structural Model Presentation of Psychological Maladjustment Based on Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms with the Mediating Role of Ego Strength in Individuals with Chronic Pain

Objective: The present study aimed to present a structural model of psychological maladjustment based on post-traumatic stress symptoms with the mediating role of ego strength in individuals suffering from chronic pain. Methods: The research method was descriptive, correlational, and structural equation modeling was used. The study population included all patients suffering from chronic pain who had visited specialized pain clinics in Tehran from February 2021 to May 2021. Using the Tabachnick and Fidell (2007) formula, the sample size was determined to be 330, selected through convenience sampling. Research instruments included the Psychological Adjustment Questionnaire (Rohner & Khaleque, 2005), the Mississippi Scale for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (1998), and the Psychological Ego Strength Scale (Markstrom et al., 1997). Data analysis was conducted in two parts: descriptive (central and dispersion indices, skewness, and kurtosis) and inferential (structural equation modeling) using SPSS-V23 and LISREL-V8.8 software. Findings: The results indicated that the model has a good fit. Additionally, the results showed that there is a significant direct and indirect relationship (mediated by ego strength) between post-traumatic stress and psychological maladjustment in individuals with chronic pain. The results suggest that the effect of post-traumatic stress indirectly influences psychological maladjustment positively through ego strength, with a magnitude of 0.81. Conclusion: Therefore, through individual and group therapy sessions, assistance should be provided to patients with chronic pain suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, enabling them to fairly assess their functioning in life, free the individual from potential guilt at the time of the incident, and the lack of positive individual performance. Thus, by increasing ego strength and reducing avoidance behaviors, a lesser degree of psychological maladjustment can be expected in the individual.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Fear of Self Questionnaire.

The aim of the study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the 20-item Fear of Self Questionnaire (FSQ) in Iranian samples. A cross-sectional, descriptive survey design was used. Students in universities of Tehran were invited to participate. Participants were asked to complete the Persian versions of the FSQ, Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (VOCI), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Ego Strength Scale (ESS), and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RES). Face, content, and construct validity, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), and test-retest reliability of the FSQ were assessed. Face and content validity of the FSQ were confirmed. Analysis of the principal components using the inclined rotation method showed that there were two factors with an eigenvalue >1, which explained 80.5% of the total variance. The first factor had 12 items and the second factor had 8 items. The internal consistency was 0.975, 0.981, and 0.941 for the total score and the first and second factor, respectively, whereas the test-retest reliability was 0.732, 0.729, and 0.714, respectively (all p ≤ 0.01). For convergent validity of the FSQ, correlations of the total score and the two factors of the FSQ with the scores of VOCI, RES, ESS, and DASS-21 were all significant (p ≤ 0.01). The FSQ can be used in Iranian samples for clinical practice and research.

Predicting internet addiction through object relations and ego strength: The moderating role of gender

ObjectivesThe present study aimed at predicting internet addiction through ego strength and object relations. It also attempted to investigate the moderating role of gender in the relationship between ego strength and object relations with internet addiction. MethodsThis descriptive study included 248 students (124 men, 124 women) at University of Tehran. Participants completed Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory (BORRTI), Ego Strength Scale (ESS), and Internet Addiction Test (IAT). ResultsThe results of Regression Analysis (P≤ .05) indicated that social incompetence, egocentricity and insecure attachment had a significant and positive correlation with internet addiction while the ego strength had a significant and negative correlation with it. Similar results obtained with respect to both men and women, but the relationship between object relations components and internet addiction was stronger in men. The gender variable, however, did not play a moderating role in the relationship between object relations and ego strength with internet addiction. ConclusionIt can be concluded that egocentricity and ego strength can significantly predict internet addiction and therefore need to be considered and worked on in treatment plans and preventive measures.

Ego-strength mediates the relationship between religious health behaviors and mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran

The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of ego-strength in the relationship between religious health behaviors and mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. A total of 346 university students (301 women, 45 men) completed the Ego-Strength Scale, Religious Health Promoting Behaviors Inventory, and Mental Health Inventory from May 2021 to August 2021. The structural equation modeling and the Pearson correlation method were used. The results revealed that religious health behaviors have a positive and significant relationship with, psychological well-being, and ego-strength, as well as a negative significant relationship with psychological distress. The results also showed ego-strength has a negative relationship with psychological distress. Ego-strength mediated the relationship between religious health behaviors and symptoms of mental health. Ego-strength can be considered as a very important variable in religious health psychology; reinforcing ego-strength may have some implications for mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic

Worry, anger rumination, ego-strength and adjustment to heart disease

ObjectivesAs a chronic illness, heart disease usually undermines the patients’ physical, psychosocial and social adjustment. Medical care of these patients is also influenced by all the adjustment problems. The present study aimed to examine the moderating role of ego-strength on the association of worry and anger rumination with adjustment problems to heart disease. MethodsThree hundred and twenty seven individuals suffering from cardiovascular disease (138 women, 189 men) participated in the present study. All participants completed the Ego-Strength Scale (ESS), Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), Anger Rumination Scale (ARS), and Adjustment to Illness Scale (AIS) as volunteers. ResultsResults revealed a significant negative correlation between ego-strength and adjustment problems to heart disease. Worry and anger rumination showed a significantly positive association with adjustment problems to heart disease. The results of path analysis indicated that the association of worry and anger rumination with adjustment problems to heart disease was moderated by ego-strength. ConclusionIt can be concluded that more intensive care requires implementation of psychological interventions into the regular medical treatments for patients with heart disease.

Development of the child\u2019s ego strength scale: an observation-based assessment of the board game behaviors in play therapy in Korea

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to develop a scale for assessing children’s ego strength through the observation of children playing board games in a therapeutic setting. Because ego strength is an index of psychosocial health, it is important to assess ego strength in childhood. In particular, children aged 7 to 9 exhibit their ego-strength characteristics in a situation challenged by self-competence due to their latency period. Therapists can identify such ego strength through game behaviors of children aged 7 to 9 in the play therapy setting. Thus, it is needed to develop a scale by selecting game play behaviors that grasp ego-strength.MethodData were collected from 127 play therapists and play therapist-supervisors, who observed 468 play therapy sessions and 55 children aged 7–9 who received play therapy in Korea. The scale was created through content validity verification, factor analysis and verification of criterion-related validity.ResultsWe generated a Child’s Ego Strength Scale (CESS) consisting of five sub-factors (Coping Strategy, Cognitive Strategy, Ego Restriction, Interpersonal Functioning, Frustration Tolerance) through exploratory factor analysis. The scale met the goodness of fit criteria in a confirmatory factor analysis. The analysis of therapy sessions of children with strong and weak ego strength, as identified by play therapists, showed a significant difference between the two groups in all five sub-variables. There was a significant correlation between the CESS scores and scores of ego strength-related variables of the Rorschach scale, indicating good criterion-related validity.ConclusionThe CESS appears to be a practical method for the assessment of ego strength in the field of child counseling.

الدوجماتيـــــة وعلاقتهـــــا بقـــــوة الأنـــــا لدى عينة من المعاقين بصرياً

هدفت الدراسة الحالية إلى الکشف عن الدوجماتية وعلاقتها بقوة الأنا لدى عينة من المعاقين بصريأ وتکونت عينة الدراسة من (50) من الطلاب المعاقين بصريأ من مدرسة النورللمکفوفين ببنها بمحافظة القليوبية ومدرسة النور للمکفوفين بالزقازيق بمحافظة الشرقية، وتراوحت أعمارهم من (15- 18) عامأ، واستخدمت الدراسة مقياس الدوجماتية (إعداد: الباحثة) ،ومقياس قوة الأنا المعدل لبارون (تعديل وتقنين: زينب سيد عبدالحميد،2014)، وأشارت نتائج الدراسة إلى أنه توجد علاقة ارتباطية سالبة دالة احصائيا بين درجات عينة الدراسة على مقياس الدوجماتية، ودرجاتهم علي مقياس قوة الأنا. Abstract The current study aimed at exploring the relationship between dogmatism and ego strength in a sample of visually impaired. The sample consisted of 50 students with visual impairments from Al Nour School for Blind, Benha, Qalyoubia governorate and Al Nour School for Blind, Zagazig, Sharqia governorate. Participants were between 15-18 years old. The current study utilized the Dogmatism Scale (prepared by the researcher) and Baron’s Ego Strength Scale – Revised (modified and rationed by Zeinab Sayed Abd El Hameed, 2014). It was found a negative relationship between dogmatism and ego strength, and negative relationship between ego weakness and dogmatism.

Development and Validation of an Ego Strength Scale for Early School-Age Children

Development and Validation of an Ego Strength Scale for Early School-Age Children

Laisvės atėmimo bausmę atliekančių nuteistųjų asmenybės charakteristikos taikant MMPI-2

[only abstract in English; full article and abstract in Lithuanian]
 
 The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2) is the most widely used self-report test used for screening of personality and psychopathology in a variety settings including forensic setting. The research in various populations of offenders confirms them possessing characteristics such as antisocial, lacking of impulse control, irresponsible, etc., and these characteristics are captured by the MMPI-2 scales. The goal of this study was to evaluate personality characteristics of incarcerated male and female offenders with the MMPI-2 and to analyse the results in light of results from other offender population studies. The finding of current study shows that the MMPI-2 characteristics of Lithuanian incarcerated offenders generally appear to be similar to those obtained in other cultural environments. Incarcerated offenders were best defined by higher Psychopathic Deviate (Pd), Paranoia (Pa), Antisocial Behavior (RC4), Ideas of Persecution (RC6), Discontraint (DISC), Overcontrolled Hostility (O-H), MacAndrew Alcoholism Revised (MAC-R) scales scores and lower scores of Ego Strength (Es) and Sociala Responsibility (Re) scales. This study has confirmed the results of earlier research and justified the MMPI-2 application for psychological assessment in Lithuanian offenders’ sample.

Changes in ego strength in patients with neurotic and personality disorders treated with a short-term comprehensive psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Analysis of changes in ego strength in the course of group psychotherapy in patients treated with neurotic and selected personality disorders (F40-F61, ICD-10). 82 patients (61 women and 21 men) participated in the study. They underwent intensive short-term group psychotherapy treatment in a day hospital for neurotic and behavioural disorders. The assessment of the patients' personality functioning was carried out at the onset and the end of the psychotherapy. The assessment was reported as a value on the ego strength scale by means of the MMPI-2 questionnaire. The comparative analysis with the use of the t-Student test for related measurements, which was carried out for the measurement of ego strength values at the onset and the end of the therapy, demonstrated a statistically significant positive change both for the entire examined group and the groups which considered the gender and diagnosis distribution. Short-term intensive comprehensive group psychotherapy with elements of individual psychotherapy results in obtaining the desired changes in the personality functioning manifested through the increase in ego strength.

Spiritual health mediates the relationship between ego-strength and adjustment to heart disease.

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of spiritual health in the relationship between ego-strength and adjustment to heart disease. In total, 327 patients with coronary artery disease (138 women, 189 men) completed the Ego-Strength Scale, Adjustment to Illness Scale, and Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Results showed that both ego-strength and spiritual health had a significantly positive correlation with adjustment to heart disease. Results also revealed that spiritual health mediated the relationship between ego-strength and adjustment to heart disease. More improvement in adjustment to heart disease requires more improvement in patients’ spiritual health as well as to ego-strength.

Predicting obsessions and compulsions according to superego and ego characteristics: A comparison between scrupulosity and non-religious obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive images or impulses and/or ritualistic and rigid behaviors. Symptoms of OCD have different contents including contamination, harming and symmetry. Religion is one of the themes that has been observed in the context of OCD frequently. The aim of the present study was to examine the power of superego and ego characteristics in predicting scrupulosity and non-religious obsessions and compulsions, as well as comparing the two sets of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Sixty six Iranian (19 men, 47 women) participated in the study. All participants were asked to complete Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity, Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory, the Multidimensional Anger Inventory, and Ego Strength Scale. Results showed that perfectionism and anger were positively correlated with scrupulosity and non-religious obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Ego control was negatively correlated with scrupulosity, while ego resiliency was not correlated with any of these two sets of symptoms. Regression analysis indicated that among these variables, anger was the best predictor of non-religious obsessive-compulsive symptoms, while perfectionism and ego control were the best predictors of scrupulosity.

Ego Strength and Anxiety among Working and Non-working Women

The main purpose of this research was to find out the mean difference between working and non working women. The total 80 women as a variation belonging to working and non working women were taken. The research tool for Ego Strength was measured by Hasan’s Ego strength Scale and tool for anxiety were used which made by Sinha. Here t-test was applied to check the significant of in Ego strength and Anxiety between working and non working women. To check the relation between Ego strength and anxiety correlation method is used. The study revealed that there was significant difference between working and non working women in Ego strength. There was significant difference between working and non working women in anxiety. While the correlation between Ego strength and anxiety reveals 0.54 positive correlation.

Personality differences of applicants for the gun license (proprioceptive and verbal tests). [Diferencias de personalidad en los solicitantes de licencia de armas (ensayos propioceptivos y verbales)

The Proprioceptive Diagnosis of Temperament and Character (DP-TC) test (Tous, 2008), which assesses fine motor performance without vision of one’s own body, was used together with a verbal personality test (Durán, García, García, & Martínez, 2001) to examine personality differences between a group of gun licence (GL) applicants and a group from the general population (GP). MANOVA results showed significant differences between the groups on the DP-TC test, with the GL group scoring higher on Emotionality (Temperament) and Impulsivity (Temperament and Character) and lower on Decision-Making (Temperament and Character) and Mood (Temperament). In the GL group, fine motor performance on the DP-TC test was compared with the verbal test results by means of a principal components analysis with varimax rotation. The results corresponding to the Temperament dimensions of the DP-TC test showed only one association with the verbal test variables, thus corroborating the notion that Temperament has little social influence. Comparison of the proprioceptive and verbal tests showed that the results on the Emotionality scale of the DP-TC were consistent with those on the Ego-strength scale of the verbal personality test, but not with Neuroticism; this suggests that these subjects might fake their replies in order to obtain the gun licence.

Comparison of Ego Strength between Addicted and Non Addicted People from Karaj and Tehran Cities of Iran

A healthy ego-strength is connected to a healthy self-concept, one that is flexible, thus can look at a situation and see outcome of it, understand the difference between wants and needs, and practices acceptance to distinguish between what can and cannot be changed, to respond accordingly. The aim of this research was to compare the ego strength of addicted and non addicted people. The sample size of 200 men (100 addicts+ 100 non addicts) living in Karaj and Tehran cities of Islamic Republic of Iran that was selected through the availability sampling. To collect data, a 52-item BESS (Barron’s ego strength scale) questionnaire was used. The normal t-test was applied as statistics methods and for data analysis using SPSS software. Sig.-value of 0.0001 indicates that the difference between the addicted and healthy people is statistically significant. The high ego-strength scores of the healthy people indicate that they can defeat the difficulties. On the other hand, the low ego-strength scores of the addicted people indicate that they cannot overcome the problem correctly.

Development and Validation of the Ego Strength Scale for Children

The purpose of this study was to develop an objective Ego Strength Scale for Children useful in research and clinical fields for measuring the ego strength of 3rd-6th grade children and to test its validity and reliability. For these purposes, we conducted a two-stage study. First, the scale was developed through data collection, composition of components and questions, a preliminary survey, and a main survey. The main survey was conducted with 1,185 3rd-6th grade children in Seoul and Gyeonggi province, and analyzed through exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis. Second, the scale we developed was validated through confirmatory factor analysis and convergent-discriminant validity analysis for testing validity related to internal structure. The secondary survey was conducted with 5,494 3rd-6th grade children in Seoul and the province of Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Gangwon, Jeolla, Gyeongsang, and Jeju. The study concluded the following: First, the scale was designed to measure 4 factors: competence, initiative, elasticity, and sociability using 26 questions. Second, the Ego Strength Scale for Children was found to be highly valid through validity tests. In addition, it showed high reliability in an internal consistency test and split-half reliability test. As this study developed and validated the Ego Strength Scale for Children in the current situation in which there are few objective instruments to measure children`s ego strength, it is meaningful in that it laid the basis for broader future research on ego strength.

The Greek version of the Defense Style Questionnaire: psychometric properties in three different samples

Background The Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ) was designed to assess behavior indicative of conscious derivatives of defensive styles. This study aimed to assess the factor structure and the main psychometric properties of its Greek version in 3 different samples. Methods The DSQ-88 was translated into Greek using back-translation, and it was administered to 2308 participants (984 healthy subjects, 1084 medical patients, and 240 psychiatric patients). Exploratory factor analyses were performed; Symptom Distress Checklist-90-R and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) ego strength scales were administered for testing criterion and concurrent validity, followed by hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results Four factors were identified, largely corresponding to the original version's maladaptive, image-distorting, self-sacrificing, and adaptive styles, showing a remarkable stability in all 3 samples. Adaptive style was positively correlated to ego strength, whereas maladaptive, image-distorting, and self-sacrificing styles were negatively correlated, in descending order. This, along with the intercorrelations observed between the 4 styles, provides evidence that this version supports the hierarchical organization of defensive functioning. Test-retest reliabilities were adequate for all styles ( r 1i's = 0.88, 0.81, 0.77, and 0.81, respectively). Internal consistencies were satisfactory for maladaptive style (0.82), sufficient for self-sacrificing (0.76), and rather low for image-distorting (0.68) and adaptive (0.66) styles. Maladaptive, image-distorting, and self-sacrificing—but not adaptive—styles could differentiate nonpatients from psychiatric patients. Maladaptive style was positively and adaptive style was negatively independently associated with psychological distress. Conclusions The present findings support the applicability of the Greek version of DSQ-88 within the Greek population. Future studies could improve its psychometric properties by finding new items for image-distorting and, especially, adaptive styles.

Disability Status, Disease Parameters, Defense Styles, and Ego Strength Associated with Psychiatric Complications of Multiple Sclerosis

The aim of the present study was to identify disease parameters, defensive styles and ego strength measurements associated with various forms of psychiatric complications in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Seventy-nine patients with MS participated in the study and 158 healthy subjects matched for age and sex served as controls. A wide range of clinical information was collected and the following self-report instruments were used: General Health Questionnaire, Symptom Distress Check List, Defense Style Questionnaire, MMPI Ego Strength Scale and Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire. The odds of being assessed with a psychiatric diagnosis upon interview were 6.7 times greater among patients compared to controls and 9.3 times greater among patients with recent-onset MS compared to patients with long-term disease. Psychiatric complications of MS were closely associated with age of the disease onset and the degree of disability due to MS. Additionally, higher rates of introverted hostility, adoption of maladaptive ego defenses and weakened ego strength were also closely associated with several forms of psychological distress, especially depressive symptoms. MS patients experience elevated symptoms of psychological distress, especially depressive symptoms, which are most closely associated with disease parameters. However, the crucial role of various personality traits such as ego defenses and hostility features in the psychiatric symptom formation also appear to contribute to the development of depressive symptoms. Clinicians involved in the clinical management of patients with MS should identify and modify treatment if these specific personality markers that indicate the exhaustion of the patient's resources to cope with the physical and psychological stress of the illness are present.

Does personality mediate the relation between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality?

Alcohol volume and pattern have been previously demonstrated to predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) in these data. The objective of this study is to assess whether personality is a mediator in this relationship. Interview data from 1154 men and women aged 18–64 in Winnipeg, Canada were linked to health care utilization and mortality records, with 8 years of follow-up. Cox regressions were performed for men and women on time to first event for physician visits, hospitalizations, and deaths due to coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension, or other CVD. Models linking drinking to CHD outcomes were unaffected by personality covariates. Models of hypertension and other CVD outcomes were significantly affected by inclusion of personality covariates, but the only significant individual personality covariate was in the effect on other CVD in men: Ego strength had a protective effect [hazard ratio (HR)=0.95]. Personality covariates as measured by the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and Barron's Ego Strength Scale make only a modest contribution to statistical models of the relation between drinking and cardiovascular health.