The twinship: A paradigm towards separation and integration

The twinship paradigm describes a pattern of dyadic, quasi-object relationship, the purpose of which is to facilitate differentiation, separation, and integration. Twinships can arise at any point in the life cycle, when the self faces a developmental impasse. The twin functions as an alter-ego. Twin selection is based on two principles, namely, sympathetic resonance of experience, and difference. The two essentials of the resonance are similarity of developmental task, and similarity of obstacles to its accomplishment. The essentials of the difference lie in the fact that the twin is seen either as an idealized alter-ego, or as the carrier of the self's intolerable aspects. Twinships can collapse, in the presence of massive investment in the archaic symbiotic bond. They then lose their transitional status, and can degenerate into a fixation on a separation-impeding dyadic mode of relating.     

Inability to Withdraw from Work as Related to Poor Next‐Day Recovery and Fatigue among Women

Recovery from work stress is crucial in avoiding stress‐related ill‐health. The aim of this longitudinal study was to investigate whether processes that prolong the mental exposure to work stressors, such as inability to withdraw from work (IW), the core construct in overcommitment, predicts fatigue and poor next‐day recovery 6 months later over what is predicted by job control and job demands. Self‐ratings in questionnaires were completed by 160 women working in dental care at two time points, 6 months apart. Job demands, job control, and IW were used to predict fatigue and poor next‐day recovery, respectively. Multiple regression analyses show that having children living at home, high job demands, and high IW were associated with fatigue 6 months later. Job demands and IW, but not having children at home, predicted poor next‐day recovery. Mediation analyses using a bootstrapping procedure indicated that IW partly mediated the relationship between job demands and fatigue and between job demands and next‐day recovery. These findings highlight the importance of considering IW in relation to fatigue and recovery from work and that such factors should be included in interventions targeting work‐related stress.