Exploring the personality and relationship factors that mediate the connection between differentiation of self and phubbing.

One of the family patterns crucial for mental and physical well-being is differentiation of self. In this study, our aim was to investigate its impact on the phenomenon of phubbing-where individuals prioritize smartphones over in-person interactions. The prevalence of phubbing behavior has risen substantially in tandem with the increased adoption of smartphones. The study investigated familial, interpersonal, and personal factors that could potentially contribute to the escalation of phubbing behaviors. It was hypothesized that differentiation of self would be associated with phubbing through the mediation of fear of missing out, romantic relationship satisfaction, and loneliness in intimate relationships. We also expected gender differences in the study variables. A sample of 431 young adults, with an average age of 29 (M = 29.05, SD = 9.14), completed the DSI-R, Phubbing, FoMO, ENRICH, and LIRS questionnaires online. Results indicated that fear of missing out mediated the relationship between three dimensions of differentiation of self-emotional reactivity, emotional cutoff, and fusion with others-and phubbing behavior. However, the expected mediation by romantic relationship satisfaction and loneliness in intimate relationships did not reach significance, although these variables were found to be associated with differentiation of self. Women reported higher levels of phubbing behavior, emotional reactivity, and fusion with others, whereas men reported higher levels of I-position. We conclude that fear of missing out may serve as a catalyst, triggering anxiety in individuals, which in turn drives them to adopt phubbing as a coping mechanism. Moreover, individuals with lower levels of differentiation of self appear to be at increased risk of engaging in phubbing behaviors through the mediation of fear of missing out.

The role of emotional dysregulation in the association between family-of-origin conflict and romantic relationship maintenance.

Family-of-origin systems are consequential for the emotional well-being of offspring. These influences are likely to last into adulthood, affecting adult children's romantic relationships. The mechanisms by which family-of-origin environments influence adult romantic relationships are not fully understood. In a sample of 118 different-sex couples, we tested the effects of negative family-of-origin conflict on adult offspring's provision of relationship maintenance to their romantic partner using structural equation modeling. We evaluated emotional dysregulation as a mediator of this effect, using two measures of emotional dysregulation. Results from structural models demonstrated a negative effect of family-of-origin conflict on the provision of relationship maintenance via higher levels of emotional dysregulation. Our results highlight emotional self-regulation as a valuable intervention point for couple therapists.

Relación entre diferenciación del self y agresión entre pares en estudiantes universitarios argentinos / Relationship between Differentiation of Self and Peer Aggression among Argentine University Students

Resumen La agresión entre pares, sea un caso aislado o recurrente, se ha convertido en un problema cada vez más frecuente que socava el desarrollo psicoafectivo saludable en adolescentes y universitarios. Como en el caso de otras conductas de riesgo, la investigación sugiere que los aspectos emocionales son relevantes para su prevención. El objetivo de este trabajo fue explorar la posible relación entre la agresión entre pares, la agresión frecuente como potencial conducta de bullying, y la diferenciación del self, un constructo procedente de la perspectiva sistémica, vinculado con la autorregulación emocional y la madurez afectiva. Universitarios de entre 17 y 20 años (. = 365), completaron sendos cuestionarios autoadministrados sobre estilos de vida (Carlos et al., 2016) y diferenciación del self (Duch-Ceballos et al., 2022). En esta muestra, los análisis realizados indican que menores niveles de diferenciación del self en los varones se asocian con mayor probabilidad de agresión entre pares, tanto sufrida como ejercida. Además, uno de los componentes de la diferenciación del self, la reactividad emocional, predijo también las probabilidades de agresión (sufrida y ejercida) entre las mujeres. La diferenciación del self está recibiendo una creciente atención como variable relevante para explicar la conducta de los adolescentes y jóvenes emergentes, especialmente en lo que refiere a conductas de riesgo. Este sería el primer estudio sobre la relación entre diferenciación del self, agresión entre pares y agresión frecuente como potencial conducta de buylling. Finalmente, a partir de los resultados encontrados, se plantean futuras líneas de investigación y aplicaciones prácticas.

Abstract The socio-emotional well-being of children and adolescents is a subject of interest, both for academics and researchers, as well as for parents, teachers, and educators. Initiatives on this subject promoted from the scientific and social fields are constantly increasing, and tend to have multiple objectives, among which one is to understand the dynamics of violence and aggression (which can lead to harassment situations), in order to design more effective prevention and intervention programs. Research suggests that emotional aspects are relevant to the prevention of aggression. Within this realm, we have focused on Differentiation of self (DoS). The Differentiation of Self is the central construct of Bowen's (1978) systemic family theory, considered from the systemic perspective as one of the most comprehensive theories of human behavior. With multiple applications in various fields, DoS is a multidimensional construct, defined as the ability to balance emotional and intellectual functioning -intrapsychic dimension-, and intimacy and autonomy in personal relationships -interpersonal dimension-. Based on previous studies in which associations between bullying and socio-emotional competencies were found, the objective of this study was to find relationships between differentiation of self and peer aggression. The sample of this study was comprised of university students between 17 and 20 years old (. = 365; . = 18.3, SD = .7), who were studying the first or second year of different careers at a private university in Argentina. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires on lifestyles (Carlos et al., 2016) and the Spanish version of the Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised (S-DSI; Rodríguez-González et al., 2015). Considering that peer aggression does not represent bullying in all cases, the association between self-differentiation and peer aggression was first analyzed and, second, this same association was analyzed, but considering frequent aggression. Peer aggression was perpetrated by 54 % of women and 63 % of men (. = .043) and suffered by 72 % of women and 61 % of men (. = .124). Frequent peer aggression was perpetrated by 15 % of women and 21 % of men (. = .001) and suffered by 41 % of women and 24 % of men (. = .146). Both measures of DoS (Emotional reactivity and Emotional cutoff) were associated with a lower prevalence of both aggression and frequent aggression. This work offers two main findings. First, given the high incidence of peer aggression, the results of this study confirm the relevance of the research on peer aggression and, specifically, on frequent aggression associated with bullying. Second, present data suggests the existence of a relationship between differentiation of self and aggression. Since the idea and perceptions about aggression could be changing, new research is suggested, based around the cultural context and social changes that identify how the concept of bullying evolves should be promoted. Moreover, it would be positive to develop new research that can delve into the role played by the differentiation of self, since it is a factor that impacts the development and health of adolescents. The significant relationship between peer aggression and DoS found in this study contributes to the empirical corpus that affirms the relevance of the emotional factor in aggressive and bullying behaviors. In this sense, this study joins others that support the idea of intervening in aggression and buylling through the development of school intervention programs aimed at developing emotional competencies, involving students and also parents and educators.

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.

Multigenerational transmission of differentiation of self - Toward a more in-depth understanding of Bowen's theory concept.

The multigenerational transmission of differentiation of self is one of the basic concepts of Bowen's Family Systems Theory. It describes how the ability to build healthy and intimate relationships with others can be passed down through generations within the family system. Previous research devoted to the concept has yielded mixed results. However, significant discrepancies can be observed between methodological approaches and the resulting understanding of the similarity in self-differentiation observed between parents and children. The present study examines these inconsistencies and explores the process of transmission on a multifaceted basis. Based on a series of confirmatory factor analyses, our findings lend support to Bowen's theory hypothesis and demonstrate that both parental sex and that of the child play a crucial role in transmission. The article highlights the importance of addressing family issues in promoting satisfying personal and social functioning among young people.

Maternal Differentiation of Self and Toddlers' Sleep: The Mediating Role of Nighttime Involvement.

Good sleep is essential for optimal development and adaptive functioning. Hence, identifying the factors that shape sleep quality is important. Based on the transactional model of sleep development and drawing on Bowen's concept of differentiation of self (DoS), the present study examined the interrelations between sleep-related parental behavior, child's sleep quality, and mothers' DoS. A community sample of 130 mothers of 24- to 36-month-old children completed the DoS instrument and sleep questionnaires. Lower maternal DoS levels were associated with higher parental sleep-related involvement, both at bedtime and through the course of the night. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), a path analysis model indicates that maternal sleep-related involvement functions as a mediator through which the differentiation of self is related to the sleep characteristics of toddlers. As the links between parenting practices and child sleep reflect bi-directional associations, the conclusion that can be drawn from the present data is that relational aspects, such as those defined and measured by the construct of DoS, contribute to sleep-wake regulation beyond infancy. The data suggest that this construct should be considered in intervention research.

The Effects of Role Differentiation Among Clergy: Impact on Pastoral Burnout and Job Satisfaction.

The present study investigated the impact of differentiation of self as an emotion regulation strategy on work and family conflict, ministerial job satisfaction, and burnout for pastors. Specifically, does differentiation of self provide a psychological resource for pastors coping with the experience of burnout as emotional exhaustion, given the unique social context of the pastor's family and the role emotional labor has in causing burnout in social service professions? A unique aspect of the pastorate is the pastor's family's social context of living with the congregation. Due to this unique social context, work and family conflict were investigated as predictors of pastoral burnout. A sample of pastors (N = 164) was surveyed to investigate the impact of differentiation and job satisfaction on personal and work-related burnout. Findings suggest that differentiation of self provides a resource against the personal experience of burnout, while ministerial job satisfaction buffers pastors against work-related burnout.

Personality and Family Risk Factors for Poor Mental Well-Being.

There is evidence that differentiation of self (DoS) contributes to the regulation of emotions at a young age, resulting in reduced anxiety and improved mental well-being. However, there is little evidence of the relationships between these four dimensions (DoS, self-regulation, anxiety, and mental well-being), or of the potential mediating role of self-regulation and anxiety. Our primary goal was therefore to consider the links between DoS, self-regulation, anxiety, and mental well-being. It was hypothesized that DoS (emotional reactivity, I-position, emotional cutoff, fusion with others) will be positively associated with mental well-being through the mediation of self-regulation (promotion-focused, prevention-focused) and anxiety. The study included 460 participants with a mean age of 41.18 (SD = 14.97, range = 19-60). Of them, 224 (48.7%) were women. Participants filled out four questionnaires: the Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised, General Regulatory Focus Measure, the anxiety scale from DASS-21, and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. The findings showed that emotional cutoff positively predicted prevention and anxiety, but did not predict promotion. In addition, promotion positively predicted mental well-being. Finally, promotion mediated the relationship between I-position and mental well-being. The results indicate that well-differentiated individuals function optimally and enjoy good quality of life.

Differentiation of self, anxiety, triangling and distress: A test of Bowen theory.

Based in Bowen theory (Kerr, 2019; Kerr & Bowen, 1988), this study examined differentiation of self as a moderator of the relationship between anxiety and current triangling among a sample of adolescents. It also explored the relationship between specific triangle subtypes and psychological symptoms. We hypothesized that higher levels of anxiety would be associated with higher levels of triangling, and that this relationship would be weaker for participants who report higher levels of differentiation of self. Additionally, we hypothesized that psychological symptoms would be significantly lower for those who indicated a balanced triangle configuration to characterize their family structure (as compared to those selecting scapegoating, cross-generational coalition or mediator patterns). Results partially supported our hypotheses; differentiation performed as a moderator in two analyses, but not in others. Higher levels of psychological symptoms were associated with experience with mediator and cross-generational triangling.

The Attachment Versus Differentiation Debate: Bringing the Conversation to Parent-Child Relationships.

This article contributes to the attachment versus differentiation debate, bringing the conversation to parent-child relationships. While attachment theory's (AT) approach emphasizes bonding, Bowen family systems theory's (BFST) differentiation approach emphasizes emotional boundaries. They both suggest that balancing autonomy and connection is important, but AT conceptualizes this in terms of the parent's ability to meet the child's needs for autonomy and connection, while BFST conceptualizes this in terms of the parent's and child's ability to be connected due to mutual respect for each other's emotional boundaries. They similarly recognize that: (1) emotionally mature parents respect children individuality, (2) emotionally immature parents may project their needs and wishes onto children, and (3) emotionally mature parents focus on calming themselves to help their children to be calm. They differ in that: (1) BFST suggests that children may project their needs and wishes onto their parents and intrude on their parents' emotional boundaries, and AT does not conceptualize this; (2) BFST suggests that caregiver over-involvement may be experienced as positive for a child and program them to be excessively needy, and AT suggests that caregiver over-involvement is negative for children and neediness is caused by under-involved caregiving; and (3) BFST suggests that therapists should not try to be a parent to their clients as this can replicate the fusion that the client experienced with their parents, and AT suggests that therapists should try to be like a good parent to their clients to help them to develop more secure attachment styles.

La relación entre la diferenciación del self, las habilidades sociales y la asistencia a psicoterapia en una muestra de adultos españoles / The relationship between differentiation of self, social skills and psychotherapy attendance in a sample of Spanish adults

Antecedentes La diferenciación del self es la capacidad intrapsíquica de distinguir las emociones de las cogniciones, y la capacidad interpersonal de mantener vínculos significativos y ser autónomos. Objetivo Analizar la relación entre la diferenciación y las habilidades sociales, y las diferencias en la diferenciación en función de la asistencia a psicoterapia en una muestra española. Método La muestra está formada por 126 sujetos españoles, 78 mujeres y 48 hombres, de entre 18 y 65 años, que contestaron un cuestionario sociodemográfico, la Escala de Diferenciación del Self y la Escala de Habilidades Sociales. Resultados Se observaron relaciones entre la diferenciación y las habilidades sociales. Además, la fusión con los otros y el corte emocional predecían las habilidades sociales. Por otro lado, los sujetos que habían realizado una terapia anteriormente y aquellos que nunca habían acudido a terapia tenían unos niveles de diferenciación más altos que aquellos que acudían a terapia en el momento del estudio. Conclusiones Existen asociaciones entre la diferenciación del self, las habilidades sociales y la asistencia a terapia. Se discuten los resultados y se sugieren futuras líneas de investigación.

Background Differentiation of self is the intrapsychic capacity to distinguish emotions from cognitions and the interpersonal capacity to maintain significant bonds and to be autonomous. Objetive To analyze the relationship between differentiation and social skills, and the differences in differentiation according to therapy attendance in a Spanish sample. Method The sample consisted of 126 Spanish subjects, 78 women and 48 men, aged between 18 and 65 years, who answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Differentiation of Self Scale and the Social Skills Scale. Results Significant relationships between differentiation of self and social skills were observed. Furthermore, fusion with others and emotional cutoff predicted social skills. On the other hand, subjects who had previously undergone therapy and those who had never attended therapy had higher levels of differentiation than those who were attending therapy at the time of the study. Conclusion There are associations between differentiation of self, social skills, and therapy attendance. Results are discussed and future lines of research are suggested.

The Association between Differentiation of Self and Life Satisfaction among Chinese Emerging Adults: The Mediating Effect of Hope and Coping Strategies and the Moderating Effect of Child Maltreatment History.

BACKGROUND: Differentiation of self (DoS) is a core construct in Bowen family systems theory. At the interpersonal level, it represents the capacity to maintain rational thinking rather than reacting emotionally, especially while under stress. Previous studies have demonstrated the positive association between DoS and life satisfaction. The current study aims to investigate the mediating roles of hope and coping strategies on this association, and whether the mediation mechanism was moderated by participants' experience of child maltreatment. METHODS: The current sample consisted of 447 Chinese college students recruited from three Chinese universities. DoS, life satisfaction, hope and coping strategies, as well as childhood maltreatment history, were measured via self-report. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed mediation and moderation effect. RESULTS: Participants who were maltreated in childhood (n = 149) exhibited significantly lower levels of DoS, hope, and positive coping strategies than the comparison group (n = 298) at baseline and lower life satisfaction at the 3-month follow-up. Structural equation modeling analysis showed that coping strategies mediated the association between DoS and life satisfaction for both the maltreated and comparison groups. Hope appeared to have a significant mediating effect only among those in the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings lend support to Bowen's theoretical statement regarding the role of DoS on psychological well-being, with an incorporated viewpoint of Snyder's hope theory.

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

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.

Differentiation of self: A scoping review of Bowen Family Systems Theory's core construct.

Bowen Family Systems Theory's central construct, differentiation of self (DoS), is one of the most recognized constructs to systemic researchers and psychology professionals. The present study reviewed the available evidence on DoS from the inception of the construct until July 31, 2020. A scoping review was conducted and a total of 295 primary studies were eligible for inclusion. Literature was categorized according to the hypotheses postulated by Bowen regarding: the associations between DoS and psychological and health outcomes and how DoS stability and similarity in partner levels operate within family systems. Descriptive data regarding studies on the measurement of DoS and in the area of psychotherapy were also compiled. Results revealed that there is ample support for DoS as a predictor of psychological health and marital quality, and that there are positive associations between DoS and better physical health and intergenerational relationships. Results of this review show that there continue to be underexplored hypotheses and a paucity of longitudinal or causal research designs to test the stability of DoS, the intergenerational transmission of DoS, and the efficacy of clinical interventions in modifying DoS to promote optimal well-being. Recommendations and next steps for researchers and practitioners are outlined.

Adolescents at risk of eating disorders: The mediating role of emotional distress in the relationship between differentiation of self and eating disorders.

Introduction: Adolescents may feel dissatisfied with their bodies, which may lead to a risk of eating disorders (EDs) due to several factors, with emotional distress being one of the most important. Evidence suggests that family might be one of the most significant factors that may increase or decrease emotional distress. An important family pattern found to contribute to mental and physical health is the differentiation of self (DoS). The primary purpose of the current study was to map the complex relationships between DoS, emotional distress, and EDs among adolescents. We hypothesized that emotional distress would mediate the relationship between DoS and the risk of EDs among adolescents. Moreover, based on findings indicating a higher risk of EDs among females, we expected sex differences in the research indices and the mediation model. Methods: The sample included 194 non-clinical adolescents (mean age 15.15; mean BMI 21.66). Preliminary analyses examined differences between males and females using t-tests. In addition, Pearson correlations were run to assess the association between background variables and the study metrics among males and females. To examine the mediation effect, we ran SEM. Results: Due to a sex moderation effect, two mediation models were run (SEM), one for females and one for males. Results indicated that emotional distress partially mediated the relationships between DoS and the risk of EDs. In addition, sex differences were found in the mediated indices, showing that among female adolescents, perfectionism is the only dimension of EDs that was associated with DoS through the mediation of emotional distress. While the relationship between emotional distress and the risk of EDs is well documented. Conclusions: It is concluded that high DoS may reduce emotional distress, which may, in turn, decrease the risk of EDs. In addition, the results enable an in-depth understanding of specific risk factors of EDs that characterize each sex.

Decision Maker Profiling Using Their Mental Behavior Pattern.

This study describes a method to assist the task of predicting the result of the decision-making process of an individual based on psychological and emotional aspects and using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. This study presents indicators created for profile identification, which are organized in primary and circumstantial categories. These indicators are merged according to the ultimate purpose of profile identification, including the expected behavioral pattern for a person who performs a decision-making process. The person behavior hypothesis was successfully tested and can be approximated by an indicator such as mental functioning pattern, and the mental functioning pattern hypothesis can signal the most likely decisions of an individual. Four debtor decision variables were assessed in a debt negotiation process, in order to validate the method, which is applicable to other decision-making domains. The best signaling of the most likely decision of the debtor was seven times greater than that of a random prediction, while the gain of the worst decision signaling variable was 20%.

The Relationship between Differentiation of Self and Psychological Adjustment to Separation.

Many individuals suffer negative mental health consequences such as anxiety and depression following separation from a romantic partner and/or co-parenting conflict due to divorce. Consequently, treating the psychological aftermath of divorce and partner separation remains a predominant concern for mental health practitioners. According to family systems theory, high interdependence and low differentiation of self are associated with a lessened capacity for managing anxiety or adapting to stressful events since intense emotions may inhibit the ability to cope. To assess the relationship between differentiation of self and psychological adjustment to separation, 84 divorced adults completed an online survey. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that a model based on fusion with others, I-position, and emotional cutoff was a statistically significant predictor of lonely/negativity. Bivariate correlation analyses confirmed significant linear relationships between fusion with others, lonely/negativity, and co-parenting conflict. No differences between genders were found. There is a continuing need to develop interventions to address the negative consequences of divorce, help reduce emotional suffering, and encourage healthy co-parenting. Individuals struggling with psychological adjustment post-divorce, or those seeking education for managing the psychological effects of divorce and co-parenting, may benefit from counseling strategies that incorporate an assessment of differentiation of self and psychological adjustment to separation.

The Relationship between Type 2 Diabetes, Differentiation of Self, and Emotional Distress: Jews and Arabs in Israel.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered a global epidemic, and is constantly on the rise. In Israel, the percentage of diabetics in the Arab population is twice that found in the Jewish population (12% and 6.2%, respectively). Findings suggest that low differentiation of self (DoS: emotional reactivity+ fusion with others, I-position, emotional cutoff) may raise vulnerability to certain physiological pathologies by increasing susceptibility to psychological distress. The major goal of this study was to test differences in DoS and emotional distress (anxiety and depressive symptoms) between diabetic and healthy participants. The second aim was to examine cultural differences within these metrics. Another purpose was to examine the relationship between DoS and emotional distress among healthy and diabetic participants. The sample included 261 participants, of whom 154 were healthy and 107 were diabetic. Diabetics reported more severe depressive symptoms, higher levels of anxiety and emotional cutoff and lower levels of I-position than healthy individuals. The groups did not differ in their levels of emotional reactivity + fusion with others. Arabs demonstrated higher levels of emotional cutoff, anxiety and depressive symptoms and lower levels of I-position than Jews. However, Arabs and Jews did not differ in their levels of emotional reactivity + fusion with others. Emotional reactivity + fusion with others contributed the most to diabetes among Arabs, while depressive symptoms contributed the most among Jews. Finally, among Jewish participants, age was positively correlated with emotional cutoff and depressive symptoms. Emotional cutoff was positively correlated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Emotional reactivity + fusion with others was positively correlated with anxiety. Among Arab participants, age was positively correlated with emotional cutoff, anxiety and depressive symptoms. I-position was negatively correlated with all study variables. Emotional cutoff was positively correlated, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Emotional reactivity + fusion with others was positively correlated with anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Adaptation of the Chabot Emotional Differentiation Scale: Turkish version validity and reliability study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to adapt the Chabot Emotional Differentiation Scale (CED) for use in Turkey and to contribute to the Turkish literature by conducting a validity and reliability study on the scale. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: The study sample consisted of 369 volunteers between 18 and 52 years of age: 279 females (75.6%) and 90 males (24.4%), selected by the convenience sampling method. The construct validity of the scale was first tested with exploratory factor analysis and subsequently with confirmatory factor analysis. The Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-42) and the Differentiation of Self Inventory-Short Form (DSI-SF) were used to test the convergent validity of the scale. The reliability of the scale was calculated by internal consistency and test-retest methods. RESULTS: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the scale has a single factor structure. In the Turkish version of the scale, the 14th item was removed from the scale due to its low factor loading. The Cronbach's α internal consistency coefficient of the scale was found to be .86 while the test-retest reliability coefficient was calculated as .76. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis indicates that the Turkish version of the Chabot Emotional Differentiation Scale constitutes a reliable and valid measurement tool for use with a sample in Turkey.

Predicting perceived stress and resilience: the role of differentiation of self.

BACKGROUND: Differentiation of self is a process that describes an individual's ability to act by separating emotions and thoughts at the internal level as well as the ability to be activated by maintaining the self in intense relationships through the establishment of a balance between autonomy and closeness at the level of interpersonal relations. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the differentiation of self - which is one of the basic concepts of the Bowen family systems theory - in predicting perceived stress and resilience. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: The research study group consisted of 423 individuals who were selected from a Turkish sample using the convenience sampling method. The study data were collected using a demographic form, the Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised (DSI-R), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). RESULTS: The results indicate that as the level of differentiation increases, the perceived stress decreases, and resilience increases. Furthermore, differentiation of self is shown to predict 33% of the perceived stress level and 35.2% of the resilience level. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that differentiation of self predicts the levels of stress that individuals experience and their resilience in stressful situations. The presented findings are meant to serve as a guide for mental health professionals working on coping with anxiety and stress, and increasing resilience in structuring the psychotherapy process.