Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Differentiation of Self, Psychological Distress, and Dyadic Adjustment: Exploring an Integrative Model Through an Actor–Partner Analysis

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Contemporary Family Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study used an actor–partner interdependence analytic approach to examine a theoretical model assessing whether lower differentiation of self is linked to higher psychological distress and lower dyadic adjustment. Data from 195 heterosexual Spanish couples were analyzed. Results showed significant actor effects in all variables. Regarding partner effects, women’s emotional cutoff had a significant influence on their partner’s psychological distress and dyadic adjustment; however, men’s emotional cutoff had a significant relationship with their partner’s dyadic adjustment but not psychological distress. Emotional reactivity on the other hand, the intrapersonal dimension of differentiation of self, did not manifest any partner effect. The findings provide (a) a new approach on the role of differentiation of self in intra- and interpersonal distress; (b) cross-cultural support for previous research; and (c) an integrated model for a systemic understanding of these variables, grounded in a strong theoretical framework, which explained up to 62% of model variance. Overall, our results support Bowen’s basic assumptions and systems theory principles that a couple is an emotional unit, and suggest that interventions targeting emotional cutoff may be particularly helpful to benefit both members of the couple. Other implications for therapy and suggestions for future research are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Psychological Association. (2004). Resolution on culture and gender awareness in international psychology. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/about/policy/gender.aspx.

  • Arbuckle, J. L. (2014). Amos (Version 23.0) [Computer software]. Chicago: IBM SPSS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ackerman, R. A., Donnellan, M. B., & Kashy, D. A. (2011). Working with dyadic data in studies of emerging adulthood: Specific recommendations, general advice, and practical tips. In F. D. Fincham & M. Cui (Eds.), Advances in personal relationships. Romantic relationships in emerging adulthood (pp. 67–97). New York, NY: Cambridge University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartle-Haring, S., Ferriby, M., & Day, R. (2018). Couple differentiation: Mediator or moderator of depressive symptoms and relationship satisfaction? Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12326.

  • Bowen, M. (1978). Family therapy in clinical practice. New York: Jason Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, M., Larson, J., Harper, J., & Holman, T. (2016). Family-of-origin experience and emotional health as predictors of relationship self-regulation in marriage. Journal of Family Therapy, 38(3), 319–339. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12066.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi, S.-W., & Murdock, N. L. (2017). Differentiation of self, interpersonal conflict, and depression: The mediating role of anger expression. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 39(1), 21–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-016-9397-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung, H., & Gale, J. (2006). Comparing self-differentiation and psychological well-being between Korean and European American students. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 28(3), 367–381. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-006-9013-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis, L. R. (1993). Brief symptoms inventory (BSI): Administration, scoring and procedure manual (3th edn.). Minneapolis: National Computer Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis, L. R. (2001). Cuestionario de 90 Síntomas Revisado (SCL-90-R) [Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R)]. Madrid: TEA Ediciones, S.A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drapeau, A., Marchand, A., & Beaulieu-Prévost, D. (2012). Epidemiology of psychological distress. In L. L’Abate (Ed.), Mental illnesses: Understanding, prediction and control (pp. 105–134). Rijeka: Intech Open Access Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira, L. C., Fraenkel, P., Narciso, I., & Novo, R. (2015). Is committed desire intentional? A qualitative exploration of sexual desire and differentiation of self in couples. Family Process, 54(2), 308–326. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12108.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, J. M., & Apostal, R. A. (1993). The influence of relationship enhancement training on differentiation of self. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 19(3), 267–272. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.1993.tb00987.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hainlen, R. L., Jankowski, P. J., Paine, D. R., & Sandage, S. J. (2016). Adult attachment and well-being: Dimensions of differentiation of self as mediators. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 38(2), 172–183. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-015-9359-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holman, T. B., & Busby, D. M. (2011). Family-of-origin, differentiation of self and partner, and adult romantic relationship quality. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 10(1), 3–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2010.539171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hooper, D., Coughlan, J., & Mullen, M. R. (2008). Structural equation modelling: Guidelines for determining model fit. Journal of Business Research Methods, 6(1), 53–60. https://doi.org/10.21427/D7CF7R.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jankowski, P. J., & Hooper, L. M. (2012). Differentiation of self: A validation study of the Bowen theory construct. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 1(3), 226–243. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaleta, K. (2014). Marital satisfaction, differentiation of self and stress perceived by women. Polskie Forum Psychologiczne, 19(3), 325–339. https://doi.org/10.14656/PFP20140302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kenny, D. A., Kashy, D. A., & Cook, W. L. (2006). Dyadic data analysis. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krycak, R. C., Murdock, N. L., & Marszalek, J. M. (2012). Differentiation of self, stress, and emotional support as predictors of psychological distress. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 34, 495–515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-012-9207-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lampis, J. (2016). Does partners’ differentiation of self predict dyadic adjustment? Journal of Family Therapy, 38(3), 303–318. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12073.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lampis, J., Cataudella, S., Agus, M., Busonera, A., & Skowron, E. A. (2018). Differentiation of self and dyadic adjustment in couple relationships: A dyadic analysis using the actor-partner interdependence model. Family Process. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12370.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lampis, J., Cataudella, S., Busonera, A., & Skowron, E. A. (2017). Effetti della differenziazione del sé sul benessere psicologico [The effects of differentiation of self on psychological well being]. Giornale Italiano Di Psicologia, 44(2), 475–482. https://doi.org/10.1421/87351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Likcani, A., Stith, S., Spencer, C., Webb, F., & Peterson, F. R. (2017). Differentiation and intimate partner violence. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 45(5), 235–249. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2017.1365663.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martins, M. V., Peterson, B. D., Almeida, V., Mesquita-Guimarães, J., & Costa, M. E. (2014). Dyadic dynamics of perceived social support in couples facing infertility. Human Reproduction, 29(1), 83–89. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/det403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matud, M. P. (2004). Gender differences in stress and coping styles. Personality and Individual Differences, 37(7), 1401–1415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2004.01.010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Messina, K. C., Kolbert, J. B., Bundick, M. J., Crothers, L. M., & Strano, D. A. (2018). The impact of counseling and Bowen’s differentiation of self. The Family Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480718776197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R. B., Anderson, S., & Keala, D. K. (2004). Is Bowen theory valid? A review of basic research. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 30, 453–466. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2004.tb01255.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, M. P., & Schwartz, R. C. (2004). Family therapy: Concepts and methods (6th edn.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2012). Emotion regulation and psychopathology: The role of gender. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 8, 161–187. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032511-143109.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, M. L., Johnson, L. N., & Ketring, S. A. (2012). Adult attachment and symptom distress: A dyadic analysis of couples in therapy. Journal of Family Therapy, 34(3), 321–344. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6427.2012.00598.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, B. D., Newton, C. R., Rosen, K. H., & Schulman, R. S. (2006). Coping processes of couples experiencing infertility. Family Relations, 55(2), 227–239. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2006.00372.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberson, P. N. E., Lenger, K. A., & Olmstead, S. B. (2018). Examining how romantic relationship quality influences individual psychological distress over time for men and women. Journal of Adult Development. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-018-9290-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-González, M. (2016). Diferenciación del self: adaptación de un instrumento de evaluación y análisis de su vinculación con la relación de pareja, el estrés y la salud [Differentiation of self: adaptation of an assessment instrument and analysis of its relation with the couple relationship, stress, and health] (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Library of the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

  • Rodríguez-González, M. (2017). ¿La familia importa? Una revisión de la investigación empírica sobre el impacto de la diferenciación del self en la salud física y psicológica [Family Matters? A review of the empirical research about the impact of differentiation of self on physical and psychological health]. In J. C. Núñez & Pérez (Eds.), Perspectivas psicológica y educativa de las Necesidades Educativas Especiales (pp. 245–251). Oviedo: SCINFOPER.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-González, M., & Kerr, M. E. (2011). Introducción a las aplicaciones de la teoría familiar sistémica de Murray Bowen a la terapia familiar y de pareja [An introduction to the couple and family therapy aplications of the Murray Bowen’s family systems theory]. Cuadernos de Terapia Familiar, 77(1), 7–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-González, M., & Martínez Berlanga, M. (2014). La teoría familiar sistémica de Bowen: avances y aplicación terapéutica [Bowen family systems theory: Advances and therapeutic applications]. Madrid: McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-González, M., Schweer-Collins, M., Bell, C., Sandberg, J., & Rodríguez-Naranjo, C. (2019). Family functioning, family structure, and differentiation of self in heterosexual spanish couples: An actor–partner analysis. Journal of Counseling and Development. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-González, M., Schweer-Collins, M., Skowron, E. A., Jódar, R., Cagigal, V., & Major, S. O. (2018). Stressful life events and physical and psychological health: Mediating effects of differentiation of self in a Spanish sample. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12358.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-González, M., Skowron, E. A., Cagigal, V., & Muñoz, I. (2016). Differentiation of self, mate selection, and marital adjustment: Validity of postulates of Bowen theory in a Spanish sample. American Journal of Family Therapy, 44(1), 11–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2015.1099415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-González, M., Skowron, E. A., & Jódar, R. (2015). Spanish adaptation of the differentiation of self inventory-revised (DSI-R). Terapia Psicológica, 33(1), 47–58. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-48082015000100005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, A. S., & Murdock, N. L. (2014). Differentiation of self and well-being: The moderating effect of self-construal. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 36(4), 485–496. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-014-9311-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skowron, E. A., & Schmitt, T. A. (2003). Assessing interpersonal fusion: Reliability and validity of a new DSI fusion with others subscale. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 29(2), 209–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2003.tb01201.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skowron, E. A., Stanley, K. L., & Shapiro, M. D. (2009). A longitudinal perspective on differentiation of self, interpersonal and psychological well-being in young adulthood. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 31(1), 3–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-008-9075-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soleto, P., & Carrasco, M. J. (1997). Análisis y evaluación del concepto de satisfacción marital [Analysis and assessment of the marital satisfaction concept]. Unpublished manuscript, Fundación Mafre Medicina, Madrid.

  • Spanier, G. B. (1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. Journal of Marriage and The Family, 38(1), 15–28. https://doi.org/10.2307/350547.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, M., Vogel, D. L., Ku, T., & Zakalik, R. A. (2005). Adult attachment, affect regulation, negative mood, and interpersonal problems: The mediating roles of emotional reactivity and emotional cutoff. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(1), 14–24. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.52.1.14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yektatalab, S., Seddigh Oskouee, F., & Sodani, M. (2017). Efficacy of Bowen theory on marital conflict in the family nursing practice: A randomized controlled trial. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 38(3), 253–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2016.1261210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from the Fundación Oriol & Urquijo and from Xunta de Galicia (Maria Barbeito Grant). Martiño Rodríguez-González would like to thank Agustin Dosil, Virginia Cagigal, and Laura Hum (UOttawa) for their support and guidance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad de Navarra, Instituto Cultura y Sociedad (ICS), EASH, Campus Universitario, 31009, Pamplona, Spain

    Martiño Rodríguez-González

  2. Center for Psychology at University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Martiño Rodríguez-González, Mariana V. Martins & Maria E. Costa

  3. Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Mariana V. Martins & Maria E. Costa

  4. The Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Chance A. Bell

  5. School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Marie-France Lafontaine

Authors
  1. Martiño Rodríguez-González
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mariana V. Martins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chance A. Bell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marie-France Lafontaine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Maria E. Costa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martiño Rodríguez-González.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rodríguez-González, M., Martins, M.V., Bell, C.A. et al. Differentiation of Self, Psychological Distress, and Dyadic Adjustment: Exploring an Integrative Model Through an Actor–Partner Analysis. Contemp Fam Ther 41, 293–303 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-019-09493-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-019-09493-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation