Young Adults’ Romantic Disillusionment as a Function of Family-of-Origin Dynamics

Abstract

This study examined associations among indulgent parenting, differentiation, early maladaptive schemas, and romantic disillusionment in an SEM model in a sample of 578 university ­students who were partnered or had been in a romantic relationship. Bootstrap tests of indirect effects were examined to rigorously establish mediation. Family-of-origin variables (indulgent parenting and indices of low differentiation) predicted participants’ early maladaptive schemas. Early maladaptive schemas predicted perceived partner entitlement, which in turn predicted disillusionment. No differences in model pathways were identified between women and men. The authors provide suggestions for future research and psychotherapy.