Differentiation Of Self Inventory Research Articles

The Mediating Role of Triangulation in the Family on the Relationship Between Differentiation and Marital Conflict in Parents with Disabled Children

The purpose of this research was to investigate the mediating role of triangulation in the family on the relationship between differentiation and marital conflict in parents with disabled children. This descriptive study was correlational in nature. The population consisted of all families with disabled children attending rehabilitation centers in District 7 of Tehran. In this study, 150 individuals were selected through convenience sampling and sample size was determined using Morgan's table. For data collection, the Skowron and Friedlander (1998) Differentiation of Self Inventory, the Barati (1996) Marital Conflict Questionnaire, and the Dehghani et al. (2017) Family Triangulation Questionnaire were used. For data analysis, descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (correlation coefficient, univariate regression analysis) were utilized. The results indicated that there is a significant relationship between differentiation and marital conflict in parents with disabled children, and triangulation in the family plays a mediating role in the relationship between differentiation and marital conflict in parents with disabled children.

Differentiation of self in adolescents: measurement invariance analysis across six Spanish-speaking countries

This article examines the measurement equivalence of the Spanish Differentiation of Self Inventory for Adolescents (S-DSI-A) in adolescent populations across Spanish-speaking countries (N = 5,552), including Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Spain. Within the Bowen family system theory, Differentiation of self is one of the most recognized constructs to systemic researchers and couple and family therapy practitioners, with implications in relationship adjustment or mental and physical health. The study uses multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) to test for configural, metric, and scalar invariance of the S-DSI-A across the six samples. The results indicate that the S-DSI-A demonstrates configural and metric invariance, but scalar invariance is not achieved. These findings have implications for cross-cultural research on differentiation of self and highlight the importance of considering measurement equivalence when comparing results across different populations. Specifically, our results suggest that the S-DSI-A reliably assesses the latent variables of Emotional Reactivity (ER) and Emotional Cutoff (EC) uniformly across Spanish-speaking nations, but the mean scores for the ER and EC lack cross-sample comparability.

Self-Differentiation, Psychological Flexibility, and Difficulties in Practice in Social Workers and Social Work Students.

Practicing social work involves unique difficulties, which may vary with seniority. This study aimed to identify these difficulties among social workers and social work students and to examine the associations between psychological flexibility (PF), self-differentiation (SF), and difficulties in practice in both groups. Ninety-one social work students and seventy-five social workers completed the following questionnaires: Difficulties in Practice, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, and Differentiation of Self Inventory. Results showed higher difficulties among social work students regarding their professional competence. Social workers demonstrated higher levels of PF, while no significant difference was found in SF. SF and PF were positively correlated, and both were negatively correlated with difficulties in practice in both groups. Among social work students, a moderating effect of PF was found for the association between SF and difficulties in practice. The current study emphasizes the importance of developing SF and cultivating PF during social work education to enhance professional competence and reduce difficulties in practice.

Benlik Ayrımlaşması, Kariyer Uyumu ve İyimserliği: Benlik Kurgularının Aracı Rolü

One of the variables in a better understanding of career adaptability and optimism levels is family-of-origin experiences. Differentiation of self (DoS) is one of the variables linked to career development. University students with higher DoS maintain an authentic intimacy with significant others while they succeed in individuation. The current study examined the mediator role of self-construal (i.e., interrelational, and self-developmental orientations) on the relationship between the differentiation of self and career adaptability. Our sample was composed of university students; 750 young adults (550 females, 73.3%; 190 males, 25.3%; and ten were missing) participated. The data were gathered from these young adults using the Career Adaptability and Optimism Scale, Differentiation of Self Inventory, Balanced Integrated Differentiation Scale, and Demographic Information Form. Contrary to our hypotheses, findings revealed that self-construal orientations mediated the relationship between differentiation of self and career adaptability in a negative direction. We concluded that a lack of balanced-integrated differentiation (self-construal) complicate the relationship between self-differentiation and career adaptability; we delineated our results considering the literature.

Exploring changes in family functioning when a child participates in a School‐Based Filial Therapy program

AbstractChild focus is a central construct within Bowen family systems theory (Bowen theory). A clinical implication is that mental health treatment focusing on a child may unwittingly reinforce the operation of child‐focused processes, which undermine rather than enhance child well‐being. The concept of child focus in Bowen theory presents significant implications for professionals working in school settings and in fields such as children's mental health, which are inherently child‐focused. Bowen theory is the guiding theoretical framework for School‐Based Filial Therapy (SBFT). SBFT is a play therapy intervention that was initially established in remote and outer‐regional New South Wales, Australia in response to the low availability of children's mental health services and the significant barriers associated with caregiver engagement in children's mental health treatment. It involves trained school personnel facilitating therapeutic play sessions with children experiencing emotional–behavioural problems. The intervention occurs on school grounds, during school hours, and children's family members do not participate in the intervention. This mixed‐methods study examines the impact of children's participation in SBFT upon family functioning. Interviews with caregivers (n = 10) of children who participated in 10 SBFT sessions were analysed using content analysis. Quantitative data were collected using the Differentiation of Self Inventory – Short Form and Visual Analogue Scale – Family Functioning. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyse the pre‐ and post‐data. Qualitative outcomes indicated changes in the categories of child functioning, caregiver functioning, and extended family functioning, whilst child‐focused processes remained dominant but changed in intensity and valence following SBFT.

Association between perceived social support, marital satisfaction, differentiation of self and perinatal depression.

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between peripartum depression and social support, marital satisfaction, and self-differentiation. This cross-sectional study was conducted on postpartum women from December 28, 2021, and March 31, 2022. Postpartum women were evaluated using a questionnaire consisting of sections assessing sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric history, and psychometric instruments: Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), Marital Disaffection Scale (MDS), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI). A total of 425 mothers were included in the study. Of those, 140 (32.9%) mothers scored ≥13 points on EPDS, and 285 (67.1%) mothers scored ≤12 points. Mothers who scored ≥13 on the EPDS were found to have significantly higher scores for marital dissatisfaction. Total scores of family support, friend support, emotional cutoff, fusion with others, and differentiation of self were higher in mothers who scored ≤12 points on the EPDS. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of significance with others, emotional reactivity and I position. This study found that marital satisfaction is important in the development of perinatal depression both directly and through family support and emotional cuttoff. In addition, mothers with family support, friend support, and self-differentiation had comparatively lower EPDS scores, while mothers with marital dissatisfaction had higher EPDS scores.

The effectiveness of integrated systemic couple therapy on marital differentiation and marital burnout of couples affected by extramarital affairs

Aim: This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of integrated systemic couple therapy on differentiation and marital disillusionment in couples affected by extramarital relationships. Method: The study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up stages, along with a control group. The statistical population consisted of women affected by extramarital relationships who sought counseling in Babol city centers during the first nine months of 2019. Thirty individuals were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned into two groups of fifteen for the experimental and control groups, respectively. The experimental group underwent Feldman's (1990) integrated systemic couple therapy protocol in twelve 90-minute group sessions, while the control group did not receive any training. Data were collected using the Pines' (1996) Marital Boredom Scale and the Skowron and Friedlander (1989) Differentiation of Self Inventory. Data were analyzed using repeated measures tests. Results: Results indicated that integrated systemic couple therapy had a significant effect on differentiation (F = 30.01, p < 0.001) and marital disillusionment (F = 78.86, p < 0.001) in women affected by extramarital relationships at the post-test stage. Additionally, the effectiveness of integrated systemic couple therapy on differentiation and marital disillusionment was sustained at the follow-up stage (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Given the findings, this research suggests that group-based integrated systemic couple therapy can aid in improving differentiation and marital disillusionment in women affected by extramarital relationships.

DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF AS A PREDICTOR OF CAPACITY FOR MENTALIZATION

The purpose of this research was to explore if the differentiation of self has a role in predicting capacity for mentalization in female samples. The data was collected using The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ) and The Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI) on a sample of 105 female participants, aged 18-50 years (M = 30.61, SD = 8.09). Both models containing self-differentiation as predictors were significant. The first model that predicted certainty about mental states explains 32.1% of the variance (R² = .32, F(6,98) = 7.732, p = .000), with I position (β = .459, p = .000) and emotional cutoff (β = -.245, p = .024) as significant predictors. The second model that predicted uncertainty about mental states explains 40.4% of the variance (R² = .40, F(6,98) = 11.086, p = .000), with age (β = .233, p = .007), education (β = -.208, p = .024), and emotional reactivity (β = .323, p = .005) as significant predictors. The obtained results indicate that different aspects of the differentiation of self can predict certainty and uncertainty about mental states in the female sample, but also that when it comes to phenomenon such as capacity for mentalization, certain sociodemographic variables (e.g., age, education) might play more important role then it was previously thought. Further research on this matter, with a bigger and more diverse sample, is strongly advised. Keywords: mentalization, self-differentiation, emotional reactivity, emotional cutoff

Validity of the Persian translation of the differentiation of self inventory (DSI) among Iranian adults

Because of the importance of self-differentiation in couple therapy and premarital counseling, it is essential to have a suitable tool to measure it. The present study investigates the validity of the Persian translation of Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI) among Iranian adults. The participants involved 273 people who chose availability (202 males and 82 females). The DSI scale had good enough validity and satisfactory reliability according to face, content, and construct validity test. According to the results of confirmatory factor analysis, 26 items removed because their factor loadings did not meet the criteria and the DSI scale remained as a 17 items questionnaire. Due to the disintegration of factors, exploratory factor (EFA) analysis is used to determine the factors of DSI. The results of EFA supported the four-factor questionnaire, including emotional reactivity, emotional cutoff, I position, and fusion with others.

Differentiation of Self, Life Span Theory, and Higher Stages of Human Development

What are the relationships among differentiation of self in Bowen theory, the object-referral/self-referral continuum of self in life-span development theory, and enduring self-states associated with peak experiences during meditation practice? Examining their interactions has practical implications: Can self-development in one system support development in others? Thirty-seven students were administered Skowron and Friedlander's Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI) and the Survey of Peak Experiences (SPE), measuring frequency of momentary transcendent experiences during rest and enduring peak experiences during activity and sleep. Scores on the DSI in these subjects were similar to those in other adult populations. Between the two measures, there was a strong correlation between lower Fusion with Others and lower Emotional Reactivity on the DSI and higher peak experiences during rest and sleep on the SPE. Growth of the self-referral aspect of self, which is associated with peak experiences cultivated by transcendence, were meaningfully correlated with two subscales of differentiation of self.

The effectiveness of cognitive developmental hypnotherapy on differentiation of self, meaning in life and marital conflicts in married women

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of Cognitive Developmental Hypnotherapy (CDH) on Differentiation of Self, Meaning in Life and Marital Conflicts in married women. The method is quasi-experimental pretest and posttest with a control group. The statistical population of this study includes married women who came to FUM Counseling and Psychological Services Center to receive psychological services. The sample of this study included 40 married women who were selected by targeted sampling method and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. Participants in the pretest and posttest study answered the Differentiation of Self Inventory, the Marital Conflicts questionnaire by Sanaei, and the Meaning in Life questionnaire. The research data were analyzed using ANCOVA and MANCOVA with SPSS-21. The findings showed CDH led to an increase in Differentiation of Self and Meaning in life, and a reduction in Marital Conflicts in women. Accordingly, CDH through using techniques such as induction and empowerment of the Ego is effective in marital conflicts of married women. Therefore, using it as a means to improve the quality of married women’s lives is recommended.

The Effectiveness of the Self-differentiation Training Based on the Bowen Theory on Marital Satisfaction

Background: Marital satisfaction is a basis of other social organization health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the self-differentiation training based on the Bowen Theory to increase marital satisfaction. Methods: The research method was semi-experimental and the pre-test-posttest design with the control group. In this intervention, the population of this study was selected by the convenience sampling method and 38 married women were randomly assigned to the experimental (n= 12) and control (n= 12) groups in Tehran in 2018. The Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI) and Marital Satisfaction Inventory (MSI) were completed by married women. The control group received no training. The intervention included 10 sessions of self-differentiation training based on the Bowen theory. Twelve women participated in this semi-experimental project selected by convenience sampling as an experimental group and twelve women as a control group. The brief couple-based therapy was taught in 10 sessions based on techniques of Bowen therapy and four components of differentiation. The data were analyzed by SPSS v. 23 software. Results: There was a significant difference between the post-test scores of the experimental and control groups. In addition, training based on the DST approach could significantly increase marital satisfaction (t= 21.62, df= 22, P<0.001). Conclusion: The results indicated that there was a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of the experimental group. Therefore, the training could significantly increase the self-differentiation of married women. These findings can be used to design interventional programs to improve conflict, adaptation, intimacy, and marital satisfaction of the couples.

Psychological well-being: the role of self-differentiation, Alexithymia and ego-strength

Introduction: Psychological well-being as a component of positive psychology is associated with a variety of personal and family factors in psychology such as self-differentiation, Alexithymia and ego strength. Aim: This study was aimed to investigate on prediction of psychological well-being based on self-differentiation, Alexithymia and ego strength in students in Islamic Azad University in Qom city. Method: Its method was descriptive and type of correlation. The statistical community included all students in Islamic Azad University in Qom city in academic year of 2016-2017, that 350 students (195 male and 155 female) were chose by cluster sampling method. Gathering data tool included Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI), Alexithymia Scale, 4 factors of Catell's Sixteen Factors Personality Inventory, and Ryff Psychological Well-being Questionnaire. Data analyzed by using of SPSS-26 software with Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariable regression analysis. Results: Findings showed that self-differentiation, Alexithymia and ego strength could predict 25/38 variance of psychological well-being (P<0.001). Also there was direct correlation between psychological well-being with self-differentiation and ego strength, and was negative correlation with Alexithymia (P<0.001). Conclusion: With attention to results the role of self-differentiation, Alexithymia and ego strength in prediction of psychological well-being were important. It can be indicate that high levels of self-differentiation and ego strength, and low level of Alexithymia were salient in shaping of psychological well-being, and with diagnosing and improvement in selfdifferentiation, Alexithymia and ego strength can expect to promotion in psychological wellbeing in students.

Presenting Causal Model in Explaining the Relationship between Self-differentiation and Forgiveness with Marital Satisfaction based on the Mediating Role of Religious Orientation

Aim: The aim of this study was to explain the relationship between self-differentiation and forgiveness with marital satisfaction based on the mediating role of religious orientation. Methods: The research method was descriptive-correlational and the statistical population included all married teachers working in the sixth and seventh grade in Tehran's 6th educational district, with a total of 4,080 people, among whom 28 schools and 304 volunteer teachers were randomly selected. To collect research data, the following tools were used: Differentiation of Self Inventory by Skowron, E. A., & Schmitt (2003), Family Forgiveness Scale by Pollard, Anderson, Anderson & Jennings (1998), Religious Orientation Questionnaire by Allport & Ross (1967), and ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale by Fournier, Olson & Druckman (1983) were used. After deleting 10 distorted questionnaires and 3 outliers, structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Results: In this study, the direct path coefficient between internal religious orientation and marital satisfaction (P<0.01, β=0.337) was positive and significant at the 0.01 level. Indirect path coefficient between self-differentiation and marital satisfaction (β = 0.149, P <0.01) and indirect path coefficient between forgiveness and marital satisfaction (P <0.01, β = 0.129) were positive and significant at 0.01 level. Conclusion: Since internal religious orientation can be effective in improving relationships and marital satisfaction, it is suggested that in marital counseling, strengthening the religious beliefs of couples be used.

Can Family Patterns Help Adolescents Establish Intimate Social Relationships with Peers?

The current study examines how the family patterns of differentiation of self and parenting style impact the level of intimacy in same- and cross-sex friendships among Arab adolescents in Israel. 150 adolescents responded to the Differentiation of Self Inventory, Parental Authority Questionnaire, and the Intimate Friendship Questionnaire. The findings indicate that high levels of I-position, indicating good communication between family members in Arab households in Israel, together with an authoritative parenting style, may promote intimacy in friendships with the same sex, whereas fused and dense relationships may reduce intimacy in cross-sex friendships.

Modeling the Cognitive Flexibility and Academic Engagement based on Self-Regulation, Psychological Hardiness and Self-Differentiation with Mediation of Family Functioning in High School Students

Background: The researches emphasize the importance of the relationship between psychological hardiness and differentiation of self with cognitive flexibility and self-regulation with academic engagement. Thus, the purpose of this study was to predict cognitive flexibility and academic engagement based on self-regulation, psychological hardiness and differentiation of self by mediating family functioning in students. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, in a descriptive-correlational study 499 of the second-high school students of Tehran in the academic year, 2019-2020 were selected by random cluster sampling method. The statistical population includes four hundred and ninety students of Tehran who were selected by the multistage cluster random sampling method. Data collection tools included the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), The Maslach Burnout Inventory, Self-Regulation Questionnaire, Psychological Hardiness scale, The Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI), and The McMaster family assessment device. Data were analyzed using the Structural Equation Modeling method using the SPSS software version 20.0 and Amos software version 24.0. Results: The most frequent were in the 17-year-old group (11th level) with 169 participants and the least abundant belongs to the 18-year-old group (12th level), with 167 participants. The findings showed that there was a significant full effect relationship between self-regulation and academic engagement (p <0.001). According to the results, there was a significant full effect between the differentiation of self with cognitive flexibility (p <0.037). The results showed that there was a significant full effect between self-regulation and academic engagement (p <0.001). Conclusion: Based on the results, the students who are at a lower level of differentiation of self may be frustrated by the family's excitement, which leads to emotional breakdown or confusion with others.

The Role of Defensive Emotional Distancing in Loneliness of Offenders with Substance Use Disorders

Background: The abilities to effectively regulate emotions and establish meaningful interpersonal relationships are considered to be crucial for overall mental health. The current study aimed at exploring the relationship between the intrapersonal and interpersonal components of self-differentiation and the feeling of loneliness in offenders with substance use disorders. Method: Participants were 80 male offenders with opiate use disorders hospitalized at the Special Prison Hospital in Belgrade. Data were collected by using self-report Differentiation of Self Inventory and UCLA Loneliness Scale. In analyzing the data, Pearson product-moment correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were employed. Results: As has been hypothesized, results show that loneliness is associated with a lower level of self-differentiation. The most prominent role in loneliness plays emotional cutoff. Since close relationships are interpreted as threatening, defensive emotional distancing protects from further negative, painful relationship experiences, and traumatization, but, as a consequence, leaves a person deprived of meaningful social contacts needed to fulfill the basic need for connectedness. Conclusions: Long-term use of behavioral and emotional defense mechanisms, such as distancing and denial, along with the exaggerated facade of independence and self-sufficiency, often seen in forensic clients seems to conceal chronic feelings of loneliness and longing for meaningful and emotionally fulfilling human contact. Adopting adaptive emotion regulation strategies may be an important mechanism for alleviating loneliness in offenders with substance use disorders, and probably, lead to decreasing the use of substances in an attempt to modulate emotions.

A cross-cultural study of the role of obstacles on resilience in leadership formation

PurposeThe paper aims to report findings from research conducted that illustrates cross-cultural differences and similarities on the role obstacles, as defined by leadership antecedents, play in the levels of resilience found in leaders. While research has demonstrated a link between obstacles and the development of resilience in leadership, previous studies have not looked at whether this link exists across cultures and what differences or factors might affect this link.Design/methodology/approachThe research provides additional evidence that the types of developmental experiences and the level of self-differentiation in the leader relates to the levels of resiliency within a leader. Furthermore, the research examines cultural differences in the findings and offers possible explanations for them. The study reflects responses from 365 participants (151 from USA, 112 from India and 102 from Germany). The study uses leadership antecedent categories, the Differentiation of Self Inventory, Short Form and the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale. Demographic information on participants included sex, age, level of education, years of leadership experience and industry.FindingsThe results demonstrate that resiliency is positively correlated with both the leadership antecedents and differentiation of self. In light of the research findings, the authors highlight the relationship between resiliency and the leadership antecedents, while providing rationale for cultural differences in this relationship, and highlight the relationship between resiliency and differentiation of self, while providing rationale for cultural differences in this relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe research implications include being able to determine whether a leader’s cultural identity has any effect on the development of resilience through hardships. Additionally, the research has the ability to have more generalized results, as the study looks at leaders across three distinct cultures. The study has two major limitations. First, the study was conducted with a convenient sample, which may not be a true representation across the entire culture. Second, the study only looks at three distinct cultures, which represent three of the ten major cultural clusters in the world, according to the leadership literature.Practical implicationsIf leadership developers can begin to understand the interplay between developmental antecedents and the development of resilience, training can be tailored more specifically, even within distinct cultures. Additionally, understanding how differing cultures develop resilience and understand hardships as a part of that development, researchers can begin to isolate other variables that contribute to the development of resilience and other desirable leadership attributes, regardless of cultural background.Originality/valueThe study’s findings provide an additional argument for why obstacles and developmental experiences are a logical and necessary part of the formation process for leaders. Additionally, the study looks at the importance of the cultural dimension of an emerging leader, as it relates to the development of resilience. If hardships represent a significant role in leadership formation, then understanding this step is vital for the development of future leaders and leadership training in diverse cultural contexts. Everyone experiences some sort of hardship in life; however, effective leaders may intentionally use these obstacles as a training ground by overcoming them.

Relationship of Self-Differentiation and Social Intelligence with Happiness by Mediating Role of Difficulty in Cognitive Emotion Regulation Among Female-Headed Households

Background: Female-headed households are one of the vulnerable classes of society that are exposed to serious social problems. Happiness constitutes part of human emotions with different functional consequences in the personal, social, mental, cognitive, and emotional characteristics of female-headed households. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of difficulty in cognitive emotion regulation in the relationships of self-differentiation and social intelligence with happiness among female-headed households in Ahvaz city in 2018. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 261 female-headed households, which were selected by a purposive sampling method. The research instruments included the Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI), the Tromso Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS), the Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI), and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Results: The results showed that the relationship between difficulties in cognitive emotion regulation and happiness was significant, direct, and negative (β = -0.50, P = 0.000). Also, the relationship between social intelligence and happiness was significant, direct, and positive (β = 0.21, P = 0.000). There was no direct and significant relationship between self-differentiation and happiness (β = 0.04, P = 0.545). Path analysis results showed that difficulties in cognitive emotion regulation had a mediating role in the relationship of social intelligence (β = -0.16, P = 0.000) and self-differentiation (β = -0.03, P = 0.019) with happiness. Conclusions: The research findings suggest the important mediating role of difficulty in cognitive emotion regulation in the relationships between social intelligence, happiness, and self-differentiation.

The Differentiation of Self Inventory – Revised: A Validation Study in the Greek Cultural Context

This study assessed the cross-cultural relevance of Bowen Family Systems Theory by adapting and validating the Differentiation of Self Inventory - Revised in a sample of Greek Cypriots (N = 717). Results indicated high internal consistency (α = .90). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed an adequate fit of data to the original four-factor structure. Construct validity was demonstrated by a significant association between the Greek Differentiation of Self Inventory and trait-anxiety. Findings suggest the Greek Differentiation of Self Inventory - Revised is a valid and culturally sensitive instrument. Implications for counseling and therapy are discussed.