Self-differentiation

Marriage is a critical stage in life that facilitates identification. Various components such as self-differentiation or cognitive emotion regulation affect marriage. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between successful marriage and self-differentiation by considering the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation. This study was a descriptive correlational study of structural equations. The statistical population of the study was married men and women in Tehran that 635 people were selected using cluster and available sampling methods the cluster sampling method in the period of summer (2019) to summer (2020). To collect the data of this study, Hudson Successful Marriage Index Questionnaire(1992), Garnefski, Critch and Spinhaven Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire(2001), Skowron and Friedlander Self-Differentiation Questionnaire(2003) were used. The data obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed in two descriptive and inferential sections using statistical tests and the structural equation approach by SPSS and AMOS software. The results showed that the independent variables of self-differentiation is related to the cognitive regulation of emotion and successful marriage (P> 0.001) , and emotion regulation plays a mediating role in the relationship between self-differentiation with a successful marriage. Since cognitive emotion regulation skills are one of the most effective individual factors in a successful marriage and family stability, Therefore, the role of training these strategies as well as self-differentiation is very important and requires more attention from counselors and stakeholders.

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that emerges due to severe stressful events including flood, earthquakes, war, aggression, etc. Due to the nature of their job, firefighters are at high risk of developing complications and psychiatric problems, including PTSD. The present study was carried out aiming to compare self-differentiation and neurosis among firefighters with and without PTSD. Methods: The PTSD checklist developed by Weathers et al. was distributed among 180 firefighters directly active in the fire of the Plasco building in Tehran, Iran, in 2017. From among these individuals, 30 people with and 30 without PTSD were selected randomly. The participants completed the Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI) developed by Skowron and Dendy and the Neuroticism Scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). Findings: There were no significant differences in terms of the components of emotional cutoff (EC) (F=0.973, P>0.05), emotional reactivity (F=0.404, P> 0.05), fusion with others (FO) (F = 0.338, P > 0.05), and I-position (F = 0.774, P > 0.05) between firefighters with and without PTSD. In addition, there were no significant differences in terms of neurosis between firefighters with and without PTSD (F= 0.034, P>0.05). Conclusion: Being in highly stressful circumstances for a long duration of time (about 10 days) and cognitive, emotional, and environmental factors seem to expose this statistical sample to PTSD. Moreover, in the firefighting recruitment process, complete medical examinations are performed, which can be the reason for the low and equal levels of neurosis and differentiation of self in all individuals with and without PTSD.

The purpose of this research was to predict love stories based on attachment styles and self-differentiation in students. This was a cross-sectional correlational research. The statistical population of this research consists of students of Rasht university in 2022-2023. 223 people were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method. The Love Stories Scale (Sternberg, 1996), Revised Adult Attachment Scale (Collins & Reid 1990), and Differentiation of self-inventory-short form (Drake, 2011), were used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using SPSS-24 software and multivariate regression analysis method The findings of the study showed that attachment styles and self-differentiation can predict the love as a story of students, and the contribution of self-differentiation components was higher (41.3%). The value of the standardized regression coefficient (Beta) for the reactivity component (β=0.243, P<0.01), my position (β=0.169, P<0.01), emotional fault (P<0.01, β=0.194), and mixing with others (P<0.01, β=0.203). Thus, it was concluded that self-differentiation positively and meaningfully predicts love stories in students. The results of the current research show the importance of the role of self-differentiation and attachment styles in students, which can be effective in designing counseling programs in university counseling centers.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to develop and validate a structural model of marital satisfaction among married women, based on self-differentiation, critical thinking, and emotional self-regulation, with happiness as a mediating variable. Methods and Materials: This study utilized a quantitative, descriptive-correlational design with a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The sample comprised married women who visited the counseling centers at the University of Tehran between January 2023 and August 2023. A total of 330 participants were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using validated questionnaires, including the Self-Differentiation Scale, Critical Thinking Questionnaire, Emotional Self-Regulation Scale, Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, and ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale. The data were analyzed using SEM to assess the model's fit and test the hypothesized relationships between variables. Findings: The results indicated that the proposed structural model fit the data well, with satisfactory model fit indices (χ²/df = 3.618, RMSEA = .061, CFI = .923). Self-differentiation (β = .217, p = .033), critical thinking (β = .230, p = .01), and emotional self-regulation (β = .201, p = .01) had significant direct effects on marital satisfaction. Additionally, happiness significantly mediated the relationships between self-differentiation (β = .229, p = .01), critical thinking (β = .178, p = .01), and emotional self-regulation (β = .200, p = .01) with marital satisfaction. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of self-differentiation, critical thinking, and emotional self-regulation as key factors influencing marital satisfaction among married women. The mediating role of happiness highlights its significance in enhancing marital satisfaction by fostering positive emotions and reducing stress.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of paradoxical couple therapy on self-differentiation, communication beliefs, and marital intimacy in couples experiencing marital conflict. Method: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up, using a control group. The statistical population consisted of all couples with marital conflict in Tehran in 2023. Fourteen couples experiencing marital conflict were selected using a non-random, purposive sampling method, and then, through random assignment, 7 couples were assigned to the experimental group and 7 couples to the control group. The experimental group participated in 8 sessions of paradoxical couple therapy, and after dropouts, 6 participants successfully completed the therapy. The control group received no intervention. To match the number of participants, couples were randomly excluded from the control group to account for dropouts in the experimental group. The study utilized questionnaires measuring self-differentiation, communication beliefs, and marital intimacy. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and SPSS 22 software. Findings: The findings indicated that there was a significant difference between the post-test mean scores of the experimental and control groups. Paradoxical couple therapy significantly improved self-differentiation (F = 4.93, p = 0.035) and marital intimacy (F = 41.16, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, interventions based on the paradoxical approach can effectively improve self-differentiation, communication beliefs, and marital intimacy.