Psychological Separation Inventory Research Articles

The Association Between Parental Generativity and Parent-Child Attitude-Similarity Through Parent- and Child-Reported Authoritative Parenting: A Replication.

Generativity is the desire to pass something on to the coming generations. Through parents' and children's reports on authoritative parenting, parents' generativity is associated with how similar young adults think their attitudes are to those of their parent (Peterson et al., 1997; https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.72.5.1202). The present study represents a direct replication of these results. Altogether, a sample of 365 German parent-child dyads participated in the study (parents' age: M = 52.87, SD = 4.89; children's age: M = 20.81, SD = 2.26). Parents provided information on their generativity (Loyola Generativity Scale) and parenting styles (Parental Authority Questionnaire). Their child provided information on perceived parenting styles (Parental Authority Questionnaire) and attitudinal similarity to the parent (Psychological Separation Inventory). A serial mediation was found for authoritative parenting. It was not found, however, for authoritarian and permissive parenting. This pattern replicates Peterson et al.'s (1997) results. Potential questions for future research on how generative adults transmit their values and attitudes are discussed.

Characteristics of Psychological Separation from Parents, Subjective Experience of Loneliness and Self-Attitude in Adolescents with a Tendency to Self-Injurious Behavior

The aim of the study was to analyze the psychological characteristics of separation from parents, the subjective experience of loneliness and self-attitude in adolescents with self-damaging behavior. The sample consisted of 108 teenagers from the city of Novosibirsk aged 15 to 18 years with and without self-harm. The tools for collecting material were: the author’s questionnaire; methodology “Scale of causes of self-damaging behavior” N.A. Polish; PSI (Psychological Separation Inventory) methodology adapted by V.P. Dzukaeva and T.Yu. Sadovnikova; D. Russell’s scale of subjective feelings of loneliness (UCLA, version 3) adapted by I. N. Ishmukhametov; methodology “Personal differential”, adapted at the Research Institute. V.M. Bekhterev. As a result, it was found that adolescents with self-damaging behavior had significantly lower indicators of conflict separation with their father and mother and higher indicators of emotional separation with their father. In the self-attitude of these adolescents, there is a feeling of their low value, self-rejection, dependence on external assessments, difficulties with self-regulation and self-control. Also, adolescents with self-harm experience a feeling of loneliness as a state of discomfort against the background of feeling their low value and misunderstanding by others.

Pemisahan Psikologis dan Penyesuaian Diri di Kehidupan Kampus pada Mahasiswa Baru yang Merantau

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of psychological separation and college adjustment in migrated new college students. The method used in this research is quantitative correlational. There are three sample criteria used: new students active in tertiary institutions, migrated students and single. The sampling technique used was accidental sampling with a total of 769 respondents. This study uses two scales that have been through the stages of adaptation, namely Psychological Separation Inventory (PSI) and Inventory of New College Student Adjustment (INCA). The hypothesis testing technique used is the Pearson product moment correlation with a result of pearson correlation 0.322 and p-value 0,000 (p <0.05). The results showed there is a positive relationship between psychological separation and college adjustment in migrated new college students

The Relationship Between Parental Bonding and Suicidal Ideation: The Mediating Role of Feelings of Self-conscious Affect (Shame and Guilt) and Separation-Individuation

Background: Suicide is regarded as a major public health concern in the world. Identifying factors related to suicidal ideation and prevention of suicidal thoughts play a key role in reducing suicide rates. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between parental bonding and suicidal ideation with regard to the mediating role of feelings of shame, guilt, and separation-individuation. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 573 university students were selected as the sample by adopting multi-stage cluster sampling. Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), Beck Scale of Suicide Ideation (BSSI), test of self-conscious affect (TOSCA-3), and Psychological Separation Inventory (PSI) were also used to conduct the present study. Structural equation modeling, SPSS version 21, and AMOS version 24 were used to analyze the data. Results: Maternal bonding had a direct and significant relationship with suicidal ideation (0/27), whereas the direct path between paternal bonding to suicidal ideation was non-significant (0/02). From among the mediating variables, only self-conscious affect (shame and guilt) had a significant relationship in the association between parental bonding (maternal and paternal) and suicidal ideation (0/20). Furthermore, there was no significant relationship between separation from mother (0/03) and separation from father (0/07) with suicidal thoughts. Conclusions: It was concluded that parental bonding – maternal bonding, in particular – played an important role in the emergence of suicidal ideation. In addition, it was found that dysfunctional parental bonding may have prepared the ground for the emergence of suicidal ideation through feelings of shame and guilt. Therefore, it was recommended that a special attention should be paid to the important roles of shame and guilt when developing treatment protocols for those vulnerable to suicide.

Subjectivity and life authorship in middle-aged women: trial by separation

The problematic field related to middle-aged women’s life construction features characterised by different styles of psychological separation from the mother’s figure, is outlined in the study. The authors proceeded from the following assumptions. 1) There are differences in indicators of psychological well-being in middle-aged women with high and low levels of separation from the mother. 2) The connection between mothers' and daughters' life strategies during adulthood, as manifested by conjugate measures of cognitive-behavioural coping strategies, sense-behavioural orientations and time perspective perception, is type-specific and it depends on the degree of separation. 3) Psychological separation from the mother determines the authors' construction of the adult daughter's life. 170 women from Kostroma and Kostroma Region took part in the study, of whom 85 were adult daughters (M = 33 ± 5.3); and 85, their mothers (M = 58 ± 6.7). The main methods included the "Unfinished Sentences" (Yelena Soldatova, 2007); Dmitriy Leont'yev’s "Life-Meaning Orientation Test" (Dmitriy Leont'yev, 1988); Cognitive Behavioural Coping Strategies Questionnaire (Inessa Sizova, Svetlana Filipchenkova, 2002); Own Life Path Methodology (Igor' Solomin, 2007); the survey Psychological Separation Inventory by Jeffrey A. Hoffman (Tat'yana Sadovnikova, Veronika Dzukayeva, 2014). The study is a combination of nomothetic and idiographic approaches. Conclusions – if the daughter is not psychologically separated from her mother in adulthood, then close conjugation of the mother’s and the daughter’s cognitive-behavioural coping strategies, goal orientations, and life planning features is traceable, which in turn negatively affects the functioning and life functioning of the daughter. Separation from the mother during middle adulthood is crucial for the realisation of a woman's subjective position in constructing and making sense of her own life, for the choice of cognitive-behavioural strategies in difficult situations, for taking personal responsibility.

A Decrease in Psycho-Emotional Health in Middle-Aged Russian Women Associated with Their Lifestyle.

(1) Background: The present study is aimed to determine the predicting role of objective (lifestyle) and subjective factors of middle-aged women’s psycho-emotional health such as their relations with parents, attachment and separation types. Women who are overloaded with professional and family roles have high stress level, their indicators of psychological well-being and emotional level decrease when they have to give everyday care to their elderly parents. (2) Methods: The research sample has two empirical groups. Sample of Study 1 includes middle-aged women (n = 61) aged 38–56 (M = 48.1, SD = 3.5); sample of Study 2 includes middle-aged women (n = 85) aged 33–52 (M = 40.6, SD = 3.1): married (70.5%) and divorced (29.5%), having children of 14–28 years old; giving everyday care to elderly parents for more than 1.5 yrs. Some live separately (62.3 %), or have to cohabitate with parents (37.7%). All women evaluate their life situation as difficult and manifest signs of high psycho-emotional stress. We used methods adapted for the Russian-speaking sample: getting socio-demographic information, an interview; The scales of psychological well-being; Attachment style and Interpersonal Guilt Questionnaires (study 1); Psychological Separation Inventory, Purpose-in-Life Test, projective methods (study 2), mathematical statistics. (3) Results: A number of factors and indicators of women’s psycho-emotional health decrease in the situation of role overload have been identified. Among the factors there are four main types of women’s relationships with parents: Anxious closeness; Ambivalence of feelings; Secondary relationship with parents; Alienation, predicting of psycho-emotional health that are reducing or enhancing their personal resources. Besides, a type of separation of an adult woman from her mother predicts her level of well-being. (4) Conclusions: The study confirms that middle-aged Russian women’s psycho-emotional health depends on contextual factors (difficult role-overloaded lifestyle) and factors integrating women‘s relations towards parents, attachment, guilt and separation. Types of middle-aged women’s relationships with parents contribute to their psychoemotional health in a different way.

The impact of psychological separation from parents upon goal-setting of students from single-parent families

Psychological separation is viewed as a determinant of the development of goal-setting at student age. The subject of this research is the correlation between the characteristics of psychological separation (emotional, functional, attitude, conflict) and goal-setting (value semantic – values-goals, values-means, life-meaning orientations) and operational (system of self-regulation of voluntary activity) levels of young people from single-parent families. Sampling involved 49 students (18 males and 31 females). The following questionnaire-based surveys were used in the course of this research: “Psychological Separation Inventory (PSI)” by J. Hoffman, “Adaptation” by V. P. Dzukaeva and T. Y. Sadovnikova, “Value Orientations” method by M. Rokeach, “Life-Meaning Orientations” test by D. A. Leontyev, “Style of Self-Regulation of Behavior” by V. I. Mirosanova. The author determined valid differences between psychological separation from parents, value-semantic and operational characteristics of goal-setting among young people from single-parent families. The statistically significant correlations of the indicated characteristics are highlighted. The impact of psychological separation from parents upon values-goals and values-means, life strategies and individual characteristics of self-regulation of the activity of young people from single-parent families in the process of setting and achieving the goals, are analyzed in the context of logic of the functional approach of V .K. Shabelnikov. The novelty of this research consists in clarification of the role of psychological separation from parents in development of value-semantic and operational characteristics of goal-setting at student age.

Психологическая сепарация от родителей как условие развития целеполагания студентов

The relevance of studying psychological separation as a condition determining the development of goal setting in students is substantiated. The features of the relationship of psychological separation from parents with goal setting for boys (N=23) and girls (N=42) from complete families are revealed. The study used the questionnaire Psychological Separation Inventory (PSI), an adaptation by V.P. Dzukaeva, T.Yu. Sadovnikov, “Value Orientations” technique by M. Rokich, “Life-Oriented Orientations” test D.A. Leontiev (adapted version of the test “Purpose in life” by J. Krambo and L. Makholik), questionnaire “Style of self-regulation of behavior” V.I. Morosanovoy. The results of a study confirming the presence of specific differences in the components of psychological separation from parents and goal-setting in boys and girls are presented. Boys are distinguished by the leading nature of separation from parents. Psychological separation from parents, in turn, is closely connected with the value-semantic and operational characteristics of goalsetting in boys and girls.

Validation of the Individuation Test for Emerging Adults–Short (ITEA-S) in Austrian and German Emerging Adults

Individuation Test for Emerging Adults–Short (ITEA-S) is a self-report instrument for measuring five aspects of individuation in emerging adulthood. The test consists of two equivalent forms for assessing individuation in relation to mother and father separately. In this study, we adapted the ITEA-S for use in Austrian and German emerging adult populations. In both samples, the two ITEA-S forms demonstrated satisfactory factorial validity and internal consistency. The scores on the five scales were meaningfully related to the Emotional, Functional, and Conflictual Dependence Scales of the Psychological Separation Inventory and also to life satisfaction as measured by the Satisfaction With Life Scale. The results of the multiple-group factor analyses supported the hypotheses of full metric and scalar invariance for both ITEA-S forms across the Austrian and German samples of emerging adults.

Development of the Short Version of the Individuation Test for Emerging Adults (ITEA–S) and Its Measurement Invariance Across Slovene and U.S. Emerging Adults

ABSTRACTIn this study we developed a short version of the Individuation Test for Emerging Adults (ITEA–S) and tested its measurement invariance across Slovene and U.S. samples of emerging adults. The item reduction process resulted in retaining 21 out of 36 items. The content analysis of the retained and discarded items revealed that the ITEA–S adequately measures the 5 individuation domains (support seeking, connectedness, intrusiveness, self-reliance, and fear of disappointing the parent). In our samples, the ITEA–S demonstrated evidence for construct validity and its 5 scales showed adequate internal consistency. The scale scores were also meaningfully associated with the relevant demographic variables in both countries, as well as the three scales of the Psychological Separation Inventory (Hoffman, 1984; the Slovene sample), and the scales of the Differentiation of Self–Revised questionnaire (Skowron & Schmitt, 2003; the U.S. sample). The results of multiple group confirmatory factor analyses supported the hypothesis of full metric and partial scalar invariance for both ITEA–S forms (in relation to mother and father) across the 2 country groups.

Adaptation of Psychological Separation Inventory (PSI) for Russian Sample.

Psychological separation from parents is one of the main developmental tasks during late adolescence. In the current study this psychological process among Russian and Ossetian adolescents is described. The aim of this study was to adapt the Psychological Separation Inventory (PSI) by J. Hoffman (1984) for Russian Sample. Participants were 196 students from Moscow, Vladikavkaz and Alagir, between 17–24 years (M = 19.1, SD = 1.30). The internal consistency of the Russian version of PSI is 0.92. Correlations were performed between PSI, WAS and FACES-III.

How do families of adolescents with suicidal ideation behave?

The purpose of this study is to analyze how family systems influence adolescents' suicidal ideation. The participants were 534 adolescents (51.1% female and 48.9% male), with ages ranging from 14 to 18 years (M=16.18; SD=1.14). The instruments used were the following: Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale, Psychological Separation Inventory and Questionnaire of Suicidal Ideation. Results have shown that adolescents with higher suicidal ideation belong to the so-called unbalanced families (with low cohesion and flexibility) and have a conflictual dependence to their parents. On the other hand, adolescents that belong to balanced families revealed lower suicidal ideation. In conclusion, the family's cohesion and flexibility are protective factors against adolescents' suicidal ideation.

Development and Construct Validation of the Individuation Test for Emerging Adults (ITEA)

This article presents the construction, exploratory dimensionality analysis (Study 1), and validation (Study 2) of the self-report and 36-item Individuation Test for Emerging Adults (ITEA). It is the first instrument to measure different aspects of individuation (in relation to mother and father) specifically in emerging adulthood. The construct validity of the final 5-factor structure (Support Seeking, Connectedness, Intrusiveness, Self-Reliance, and Fear of Disappointing the Parent) was satisfactory. The results of multigroup analyses demonstrated that the factor structure is stable across male and female emerging adults for ITEA assessments in relation to both mother and father. The ITEA scales also show good internal consistency and concurrent validity against Emotional, Conflictual, and Functional Dependence scales of the Psychological Separation Inventory.

Birth Order Effects on the Separation Process in Young Adults: An Evolutionary and Dynamic Approach

The present study analyzes the differential contribution of a familial or social focus in imaginative ideation (the personal fable and imagined audience mental constructs) to the separation-individuation process of firstborn, middleborn, and lastborn children. A total of 160 young adults were divided into 3 groups by birth order. Participants' separation-individuation process was evaluated by the Psychological Separation Inventory, and results were cross-validated by the Pathology of Separation-Individuation Inventory. The Imaginative Ideation Inventory tested the relative dominance of the familial and social environments in participants' mental constructs. The findings showed that middleborn children had attained more advanced separation and were lower in family-focused ideation and higher in nonfamilial social ideation. However, the familial and not the social ideation explained the variance in the separation process in all the groups. The findings offer new insights into the effects of birth order on separation and individuation in adolescents and young adults.

Examining Emerging-Adults' and Parents' Expectations about Autonomy During the Transition to College

Our research goals were to document levels and examine the potential discrepancies of emerging-adults' and parents' expectations for autonomous behavior during the transition to college. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 204 incoming college freshmen ( n = 150 females, n = 54 males) and 226 parents ( n = 173 mothers, n = 53 fathers) before the transition to college. Questions based on the emotional and functional items on the Psychological Separation Inventory (Hoffman, 1984) measured college students' and parents' autonomy expectations. Qualitative and quantitative analyses revealed (a) discrepancies on autonomy expectations between parents and college students do occur, (b) parents sometimes hold higher expectations for autonomy than their emerging-adult children, and (c) discrepancies on autonomy expectations occur across a variety of topics. Interventions could facilitate communication between emerging adults and parents to prevent possible discrepancies about autonomy expectancies.

Relations between psychological separation and adaptation of adolescents

The object of this research is a problem of relations between psychological separation-individuation as well as adaptation to secondary and boarding school and differences in separation and adaptation. Explorative research was performed on the sample of 586 adolescents aged 14-16. The instruments used were: The Psychological Separation Inventory (PSI, Hoffman, 1984), and The Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ, Baker & Siryk, 1984). The results showed that adolescents from boarding schools, comparing to those who are not separated from parents during secondary school, have significant higher level of separation of both parents, but discriminate analysis showed that adolescents from boarding schools express nostalgia for their parents and wants more contacts and support from them. Adolescent from boarding school showed general better adaptation, but lower emotional adaptation comparing to not separate adolescents. Discriminate analysis showed that adolescents from boarding schools express low satisfaction with life in boarding school. The results confirm hypothesis of connection between psychological separation from parents and adaptation in adolescence. Canonical correlation analysis showed two statistically significant canonical factors. First factor shows significant connection of lower independence and better adaptation, with 23% explained variance. Second factor indicates connection of lower functional, emotional and attitude independence and better adaptation, with 12% of explained variance. Results are argued in light of theory separation-individuation and importance of meaning of separation from their parents for adolescents for adaptation on request for adaptation on secondary school and boarding school.

The Relationship Between Attachment to Parents and Psychological Separation in College Students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between attachment to parents and psychological separation in college students. Three hundred sixty-eight undergraduate students completed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (Armsden & Greenberg, 1987) and the Psychological Separation Inventory (Hoffman, 1984). Results suggest an association with the attachment variables of low trust and high positive communication and psychological separation from parents, with the exception of independence from conflict, for both men and women. For men to psychologically separate, it was also important to have low alienation from fathers. Implications of the results are discussed.

Psychological separation-individuation and adjustment to college among Korean American students: The roles of collectivism and individualism.

This study examined the effects of psychological separation-individuation on adjustment to college among 170 Korean American students in the contexts of collectivism and individualism. The results showed that the two dimensions of psychological separation-individuation measured by the Psychological Separation Inventory (PSI; J. Hoffman, 1984) related to the cultural variables differently and showed contrasting relationships to college adjustment: Conflictual independence from parents related negatively to individualism and was associated positively with college adjustment, whereas general independence from parents related negatively to both collectivism and college adjustment. Additionally, collectivism was found to be positively associated with college adjustment. Individualism functioned as a moderator, as a low degree of individualism strengthened the positive relationship between collectivism and college adjustment.

Psychological Independence Among Immigrant Adolescents from the Former Soviet Union

Numerous descriptive accounts suggest that Soviet society and child-rearing practices encourage more psychological dependency than do western practices. The present study attempted to test this hypothesis. Participants were 560 university students (250 females and 310 males) who immigrated to Israel from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) between 1989 and 1994. Subjects completed the Psychological Separation Inventory, a standard measure of psychological independence. Their results were compared with previously reported data on American college students and on adolescents in the FSU. Compared with American adolescents, ÈmigrÈ adolescents from the FSU in Israel were found to be less psychologically independent from their parents. However, they were more independent than their peers in the FSU and grew more psychologically independent over time. The findings are discussed in light of Soviet society and family processes associated with migration.

Separation from Parents in Late Adolescence: The Same for Boys and Girls?

This study examined the way late adolescents separate from their parents. Emotional independence and conflictual independence toward mother and father were assessed. Emotional independence was defined as freedom from an excessive need for emotional support from the parents and conflictual independence as absence of guilt, mistrust, and anger toward parents. Students (18–22 years; N = 190) enrolled in higher education completed two scales of Hoffmann's Psychological Separation Inventory. Results indicated that girls more than boys need emotional support from their mothers (z = −3.101, p < .002). They express this need significantly more towards their mothers than towards their fathers (z = −4.194, p < .00003). The pattern of the girls' typical items demonstrated an ambivalence between reported dependence and demand for autonomy. The two types of independence (emotional and conflictual) were moderately correlated (r s = ∼.40). These findings support Gilligan's argument that connectedness plays a central role in the development of female adolescents. They speak for a multidimensional approach of the psychological separation process, which takes the type of independence and the children's and parents' gender into account.