Gender and study year:
According to t-tests for independent samples, female students had higher scores for neurotic defense mechanisms (mean difference .29, p < .05), whereas no significant difference were reported on mature (p = .62) and immature defense mechanisms (p = .45). Students enrolled in the preclinical years of the degree program (mean difference .37, p < .01) had higher scores for neurotic defense mechanisms than their counterparts enrolled in later (clinical) years while there were no significant associations between study year and mature (p =.24) and immature defense mechanisms (p = .27).