The Role of Differentiation of Self Dimensions in the Anxiety Problems

Abstract

Bowen’s multigenerational family theory emphasizes the importance of autonomy and interdependence in individual development and focuses on the role played by the differentiation of self processes on the psychological health at the individual, dyadic, and systemic levels. Starting from these premises, the main objective of our investigation was to explore the differences, in the levels of anxiety and differentiation of self, between a control group ( n = 69) and a sample of adults seeking therapeutic services for anxiety ( n = 47). To better specify our results, in a second step, we also explored which of the differentiation of self dimensions could increase or reduce the likelihood that an individual belonged to the anxiety group or to the control group. We found that lower levels of I-position, and higher levels of emotional cutoff and fusion with others, display higher levels of anxiety-related problems. Moreover, emotional cutoff and fusion with other traits emerged as a predictor of the probability of seeking support for anxiety disorders.