AUTHOR=Zajenkowska Anna , Nowakowska Iwona , Bodecka-Zych Marta , Rajchert Joanna , Kaźmierczak Izabela , Jakubowska Adrianna , Pinkham Amy E. 

TITLE=Defense Mechanisms and Borderline Personality Organization Among COVID-19 Believers and Non-believers During Complete Lock-Down

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.700774

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2021.700774

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=The aim of the current study was to investigate whether a specific social perception of the pandemic – believing or not in COVID - predicts borderline personality organizations and whether this relationship is mediated by more primitive maladaptive mechanisms – splitting, denial, and dissociation. The online study included 720 volunteers aged 25-45. Participants were diverse in terms of place of residence, being in a relationship, and education level. Approximately 30% of the general population reported not believing in the COVID pandemic. Non-believers had more severe borderline personality organization and used more maladaptive defense mechanisms than believers. Individuals, who deny COVID-19 are more likely to show characteristics of borderline personality disorder. Splitting is an important mechanism in this relationship.