Are immature psychological defense mechanisms recently associated with junk food, alcohol, and television also associated with age?

摘要

In reading "Immature psychological defense mechanisms are associated with greater personal importance of junk food, alcohol, and television" (Costa and Brody, 2013) I was struck with the absence of statistical control for age in their otherwise well detailed analysis. The report revealed an association between poorer defensive functioning and participants' self-reported personal importance of television viewing, alcohol, junk food, and non-coital sex (as opposed to penile-vaginal intercourse). Although their sample consisted principally of young women (Mean age, 25.74 yrs [S.D. 7.8], its range (15-58 yrs)) should allow for testing an a priori expectation: that with greater age comes greater maturity. Hence examining associations using a partial correlation analysis controlling for age might be useful and, perhaps, revealing.