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.

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

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

Este estudio constituye un primer intento de explorar la aplicabilidad intercultural de la teoría de sistemas familiares de Bowen y de analizar la relación entre la diferenciación del self y el ajuste de la pareja utilizando un análisis de invariancia. Una muestra de 2.141 personas (n = 915 de Estados Unidos; n = 635 de Italia; n = 591 de España), completaron medidas de diferenciación del self (DSI-R; Skowron & Schmitt, 2003) y de ajuste diádico (DAS; Spanier, 1976). Los resultados aportan pruebas de equivalencia parcial de las medidas del DSI-R entre las tres muestras. Además, los resultados de la regresión latente indicaron que un menor corte emocional predijo mayor ajuste de la pareja en Estados Unidos, España e Italia, mientras que una mayor reactividad emocional predijo un menor ajuste de la pareja solo en las culturas más colectivistas: España e Italia. Nuestros resultados concuerdan con estudios empíricos anteriores, que sugieren que el corte emocional es un fuerte predictor del ajuste relacional. El uso del análisis de invariancia ofrece una base para que futuros estudios sigan utilizando métodos estadísticos rigurosos cuando se examinan constructos entre culturas diferentes. Los resultados ponen de manifiesto diferencias y similitudes específicas en la diferenciación entre las culturas estudiadas, que pueden ayudar a los profesionales orientando la psicoterapia de personas, parejas o familias de poblaciones diversas.

An interactive view of countertransference: Differentiation of self and client presentation.

Using family systems theory (Kerr & Bowen, 1988), interpersonal theory (Kiesler, 1996; Leary, 1957), and the interactional theory of countertransference (CT; Gelso & Hayes, 2007) as a framework, we investigated the influences of therapist personal factors (differentiation of self in relation to the family of origin; DoS) and client presentation as predictors of CT feelings and behaviors in response to a video analog client. Therapist-participants viewed either an interpersonally hostile-submissive or interpersonally hostile-dominant (HD) client. Overall, therapists lower in DoS reported significantly more overinvolved CT behaviors, overinvolved feelings, and underinvolved feelings compared with those higher in DoS regardless of client analog condition. Participants in the hostile-submissive condition reported significantly more overinvolved CT behaviors than those in the HD condition, whereas those in the HD condition reported more underinvolved CT feelings and behaviors than those in the hostile-submissive condition. Implications for theory and training are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Therapists' attributions for client premature termination: are they self-serving?

We conducted two studies of therapist responses to client premature termination from psychotherapy. In Study 1, we surveyed therapists' attributions for client premature termination from therapy using an open response format. Results suggested that therapists showed a self-serving pattern in their attributions (i.e., attributed causality to the client or environment) when considering their own clients compared to when they considered the premature terminations of clients in general. Study 2 was a vignette study in which therapists responded to one of two client presentations that varied relationship to client (your client vs. other's client). Using the attributional categories derived from Study 1, therapists rated the likelihood that each attribution caused the client's premature termination. Again, patterns across groups indicated that therapists are self-serving in their attributions for client premature termination. In addition, differences were found across gender and theoretical orientation; larger effects were found for men compared to women, and psychoanalytic therapists compared to cognitive-behavioral.

Nonerotic dual relationships between therapists and clients: the effects of sex, theoretical orientation, and interpersonal boundaries.

We surveyed 223 APA members to investigate the roles of therapists' sex, theoretical orientation, interpersonal boundaries, and clients' sex in predicting therapists' assessments of the ethicality of nonerotic dual relationships with their clients. Results indicated that therapists' sex, interpersonal boundaries, and theoretical orientation influenced ethical judgments of these relationships. Theoretical and practical implications of our findings are discussed.