Underlying Mechanisms Explaining the Link between Differentiation and Romantic Relationship Outcomes

Abstract

Differentiation of self has been associated with positive relationship outcomes, but little has been done to analyze the underlying mechanisms that promote these outcomes for highly differentiated people. Longitudinal data were collected from a sample of university students (N?=?162) and clinically relevant direct and indirect effects between I-position and emotional reactivity, anxious attachment, relationship efficacy, and relationship satisfaction and conflict hostility were analyzed using path analysis. In general, anxious attachment and relationship efficacy mediated the association between differentiation of self and conflict hostility. Clients may benefit from therapists assessing differentiation and attachment, facilitating conversations that contribute to increasing differentiation and attachment, and using both of these constructs as mechanisms to enhance relationships in young adults.