Differentiation of Self and Dyadic Adjustment in Couple Relationships: A Dyadic Analysis Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model

Psycho-emotional intervention with parents of very preterm babies during the first year: A single-arm pilot study

Studies of intervention programs that aim to improve the emotional state of parents of children admitted to the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) are scarce in Spain. The aims of this single-arm pilot study are to get to know the emotional profile of parents of high-risk preterm newborns, and to explore parents' patterns of emotional well-being before and after a psychological program called the Parental Empowerment Program, to increase parental readiness levels. The sample was made up of 100 parents (50 couples) who participated in the program. Measurements were taken of post-traumatic stress, depression, and resilience at 1 month and 12 months. Repeated measurements and dyadic data analyses were performed. One month after the birth of the baby and prior to the start of the program, mothers show more symptoms of stress and depression than fathers. After the intervention, both parents experienced improvements in their mood levels. The evidence obtained seems to show that high resilience levels and low post-traumatic stress symptoms are associated with reduced depression levels after implementing the program. However, the heterogeneity of the responses obtained, the observed associations between stress, resilience, and maternal depression, along with the reciprocal influence between maternal and paternal depression 1 year after the intervention, highlight the need for a more in-depth exploration of the interplay between risk and protective factors in this population. Despite the identified potential threats to validity, further work in this direction is recommended, including the implementation of clinical trials to demonstrate intervention efficacy. The adaptation of the parents' mutual emotional adjustment at each stage would allow them to participate more actively in the baby's care.

Differentiation of self and relationship attachment, quality, and stability: A path analysis of dyadic and longitudinal data from Spanish and U.S. couples

OBJECTIVES

In the current study, we examined the relationship between differentiation of self (DoS) and key relationship functioning variables among couples. This is the first study to test such relationships using a cross-cultural longitudinal approach (i.e., samples from Spain and the U.S.) while controlling for stressful life events-a key theoretical construct in Bowen Family Systems Theory.

METHODS

A sample of 958 individuals (n = 137 couples from Spain, and n = 342 couples from U.S.) was used in cross sectional and longitudinal models to analyze the effects of a shared reality construct of DoS on anxious attachment, avoidant attachment, relationship stability, and relationship quality while considering gender and culture.

RESULTS

Our cross-sectional results indicated that men and women from both cultures experienced an increase in DoS over time. DoS predicted increased relationship quality and stability and decreased anxious and avoidant attachment in U.S. participants. Longitudinally, DoS predicted increased relationship quality and decreased anxious attachment for Spanish women and men, while it predicted greater relationship quality and stability and decreased anxious and avoidant attachment of U.S. couples. Implications of these mixed findings are discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher levels of DoS are linked with a better couple relationship across time, despite varying levels of stressful life events. Although some cultural differences regarding the links between relationship stability and avoidant attachment exist, this positive link between differentiation and the couple relationship is mostly consistent across the U.S. and Spain. The implications and relevance for integration into research and practice are discussed.

Starting University at the Time of COVID-19: Psychoemotional Adjustment of a Group of Italian Students

The transition from school to university typically occurs during emerging adulthood; this coming together of multiple challenging development tasks at the same time may be stressful for some students. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and above all the health measures implemented to deal with it, may have been an additional factor contributing to the difficult adaptation of first-year students to academic life. This study evaluated the role played by emotional processing and differentiation of self for psychological well-being in a sample of 218 Italian students (78.4% women) who began their 1st year of college during the pandemic. The results showed that higher levels of differentiation of self, combined with fewer signs of unprocessed emotions, predicted lower psychological distress. The data support the importance of these variables as protective factors in promoting psychological well-being along with the transition to adulthood and adaptation to new life challenges. These findings draw attention to the relevance of support services aimed at university students and of emerging adults in general in considering and promoting the role of self-differentiation and the style of emotional processing for addressing well-being and mental health during the transition to adult life.

Between-Reporter Agreement Among Couples: Exploring Nonlinear Patterns in Marital Conflict

This study compares self-reported and spouse-reported frequencies of various types of behaviors couples use in marital conflict using data from Turkish Family Structure Survey (2016), which included 9,636 couples. Existing literature reported low levels of agreement among couples. These studies measured between-reporter agreement levels among couples with linear models which report cumulative scores. However, we hypothesized that low levels of agreement reported in the literature might be due to nonlinear patterns in the self-reported and spouse-reported frequencies. To detect such nonlinear patterns, we compared self-reported and spouse-reported frequencies for each level (frequency) of using the types of conflict behavior styles we investigated. This allowed us to explore the patterns of agreement or disagreement at the low, medium, or high levels of using these conflict style behaviors. Findings of this study confirmed our hypothesizes. There are meaningful nonlinear patterns that are not detectable with cumulative comparative scores. There are also differences in these patterns across the types of conflict behaviors we looked at. For example, the nonlinear patterns we observed for aggressive conflict behavior types are different from the patterns for passive conflict behavior types. We also found that these patterns are different for husbands and wives. This paper highlights the limited capacity of linear models for exploring between-reporter agreement levels and it calls for the consideration of using nonlinear methods for these types of systematic investigation. The major limitation is the lack of analysis on the effect of sociodemographic factors on the observed discrepancies other than gender.

Bağlanma Stilleri ve Sosyal Fobi Arasındaki İlişkide Kişilerarası İlişkiler ve Benliğin Ayrımlaşmasının Aracı Rolü

Bu çalışmanın amacı sosyal fobi, bağlanma stilleri, kişilerarası ilişkiler ve benliğin ayrımlaşması arasındaki ilişkilerin incelenmesi ve bağlanma stilleri ile sosyal fobi arasındaki ilişkide kişilerarası ilişkiler ve benliğin ayrımlaşmasının aracı rolünün belirlenmesidir. İstanbul ilinde yapılan araştırmaya, 18-70 yaş aralığında (30.60±11.66) olan 197 (%62.7) kadın ve 117 (%37.3) erkek olmak üzere toplam 314 kişi dahil edilmiştir. Veri toplama aracı olarak Liebowitz Sosyal Fobi Ölçeği, Kişilerarası İlişki Boyutları Ölçeği, İlişki Ölçekleri Anketi ve Benliğin Ayrımlaşması Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Paralel aracılık rolleri Hayes’in PROCESS makro eklentisiyle Bootstrap yöntemi temel alınarak test edilmiştir Korelasyon analizi sonuçlarına göre değişkenler arasında zayıf ve orta düzeyde anlamlı ilişkiler bulunmuştur. Aracılık analizi bulguları ise güvenli bağlanma ve sosyal fobi-kaygı arasındaki ilişkide onay bağımlılığı, başkalarına güven ve duygusal tepkiselliğin paralel aracılık etkisinin olduğu; güvenli bağlanma ve sosyal fobi-kaçınma arasındaki ilişkide onay bağımlılığı ve başkalarına güvenin paralel aracılık etkisi olduğu; kayıtsız bağlanma ve sosyal fobi-kaygı ve kaçınma arasındaki ilişkide başkalarına güven ve duygusal tepkiselliğin paralel aracılık etkisi olduğu; korkulu bağlanma ve sosyal fobi-kaygı ve kaçınma arasındaki ilişkide onay bağımlılığı ve başkalarına güvenin paralel aracılık etkisinin olduğu; saplantılı bağlanma ve sosyal fobi-kaygı arasındaki ilişkide onay bağımlılığı, başkalarına güven ve duygusal tepkiselliğin paralel aracılık etkisi, saplantılı bağlanma ve sosyal fobi-kaçınma arasındaki ilişkide ise onay bağımlılığı ve başkalarına güvenin paralel aracılık etkisinin olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Toplam 8 anlamlı modelin, varyansın %4 ila %19’unu açıkladığı görülmüştür. Çalışmanın bulgularının bağlanma ve sosyal fobi arasındaki ilişkiye aracılık eden değişkenlerin belirlenmesi ve bu değişkenlere yönelik klinik müdahalelerin geliştirilmesi konularında çıkarımlar yapılmasına katkı sağlayabileceği söylenebilir.

Psychometric study of the differentiation of self scale-revised in a sample of Spanish adults

This study analyzes the psychometric properties of the Differentiation of Self Scale-Revised (DSS-R), an instrument assessing the differentiation of the self of Spanish adults through the dimensions I Position, Emotional Reactivity, Fusion with Others and Emotional Cutoff, and of a new dimension, Dominance over Others. In Study 1, carried out with 1445 subjects, exploratory factor analysis was performed with one half of the participants, and confirmatory factor analysis with the other, comparing the five-factor and bifactor models. In Study 2, examining convergent validity, 180 subjects participated and completed the revised scale and the Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised. Studies 3 and 4 verified concurrent validity, with 401 subjects completing the DSS-R and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in Study 3, and 170 subjects completing the DSS-R and the Couple Assertion Questionnaire in Study 4. Adequate internal consistency indices and evidence of construct, convergent and concurrent validity were found. The use of the DSS-R is recommended for assessing the differentiation of the self in the Spanish population.

Systematic Review of the Relationship between Couple Dyadic Adjustment and Family Health

The importance of family functioning in the development of child and adult psychopathology has been widely studied. However, the relationship between partners’ adjustment and family health is less studied. This paper aims to describe and summarize research that analyzes the relationship between partners’ adjustment and family health. A systematic review was conducted in the PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Lilacs, Psicodoc, Cinahl, and Jstor databases. Inclusion criteria were as follows: articles published from 2012 to 2019 in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Data were extracted and organized according to the family health model: family climate, integrity, functioning, and coping. Initially, 835 references were identified, and 24 articles were assessed for quality appraisal. Finally, 20 publications were selected. Results showed that couple adjustment was an important factor that triggered the emotional climate of the family, was positively intercorrelated to parenting alliance or coparenting, and contributed to family efficacy and help when facing stressful life events. Findings revealed a consensus about the relationship between couple dyadic adjustment and family health. The results could orientate interventions to promote well-being and to increase quality of life and family strength. Health professionals should thoroughly study couple relationships to identify risk factors, assess family skills, and promote family health.

Alexithymia and Self Differentiation: The Role of Fear of Intimacy and Insecure Adult Attachment

It is suggested in literature that there is a link between Alexithymia and Self-Differentiation; however, little is known about possible mediation factors. The goal of this work is to test in a non-clinical population of adults the mediation role of Fear of Intimacy and Adult Attachment in the relationship between Alexithymia and Self-Differentiation. A sample of 258 participants self identified as gay or lesbian, aged 20–50 years (M: 30.29; SD: 7.27), 45% of whom were males, completed self-reported measures of Alexithymia (TAS-20), Self-Differentiation (SDI), Fear of Intimacy (FIS); and Insecure Adult Attachment (RAAS). Our results show that Alexithymia predicts Self-Differentiation both directly and indirectly, through Fear of Intimacy and Insecure adult attachment. In addition, Fear of Intimacy directly influences Self-Differentiation, and also mediates the relationship between Alexithymia and Adult Attachment which, in turn, negatively predicts Self-Differentiation. In conclusion, Alexithymia predicts Self-Differentiation while Fear of Intimacy and adult attachment may act as mediators of the report. Limitations of the study and directions of future research are described.

Adult Attachment, Differentiation of Self, and Relationship Satisfaction in Lesbians and Gay Men

We examined adult attachment styles, differentiation of self, and relationship satisfaction in a sample of 298 Italian lesbians (48%) and gay men (52%), all of whom were ages 19–71 years (M = 36.1; SD = 11.8) and in a couple relationship for at least six months. Participants were recruited via the Internet and completed a web-based survey. We tested the hypotheses that attachment insecurity and differentiation of self would predict relationship satisfaction, as well as that differentiation of self would mediate the relationship between adult attachment and relationship satisfaction. Results supported the hypotheses, thus indicating that attachment insecurity and differentiation of self were correlated with and predicted relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, results supported the hypothesized mediating role of differentiation of self. Finally, results indicated that younger participants, lesbians, and participants in civil unions reported higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Implications for counselors and therapists working with LG populations are discussed.

Couple Adjustment and Differentiation of Self in the United States, Italy, and Spain: A Cross-Cultural Study

This study comprises a first attempt to explore a cross-cultural application of Bowen family systems theory and examines the relationship between differentiation of self and couple adjustment using measurement invariance. A sample of 2,141 individuals (n = 915 from the United States; n = 635 from Italy; n = 591 from Spain) completed measures of differentiation of self (DSI-R; Skowron & Schmitt, J Marital Fam Ther, 29, 2003, 209) and couple adjustment (DAS; Spanier, J Marriage Fam, 38, 1976, 15). Results showed evidence of partial measurement equivalence for the DSI-R across the three samples. Additionally, results from latent regression showed that less emotional cutoff predicted greater couple adjustment in the United States, Spain, and Italy, whereas greater emotional reactivity predicted poorer couple adjustment only in the more collectivistic cultures, Spain and Italy. Our findings are consistent with prior empirical studies, which suggest that emotional cutoff is a strong predictor of relationship adjustment. The use of measurement invariance provides a foundation for future studies to continue employing rigorous statistical methods when examining constructs across different cultures. The findings highlight culture-specific similarities and differences in differentiation that may benefit practitioners by informing psychotherapy with individuals, couples, or families from diverse populations.