TITLE:
Self-Relatedness and Interpersonal Problems in a Large Psychiatric Outpatient Sample
AUTHORS:
Espen Bjerke, Ole A. Solbakken, Svein Friis, Jon T. Monsen
KEYWORDS:
Interpersonal Problems, Self-Image, Self-Relatedness, Personality, Psychiatric Patients
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.7 No.6,
June
16,
2016
ABSTRACT: Interpersonal-and self-relatedness problems
are strongly correlated on a global level. However, few studies have examined
associations between distinct forms of interpersonal problems and specific
types of problems in self-relatedness. We hypothesized that patients with
domineering interpersonal problems would exhibit a more positive self-image
than patients with submissive interpersonal features. We also wanted to examine
if the self-hostile and self-accepting aspects of patients’ self-relatedness
were differentially associated with their interpersonal problems. A large
clinical outpatient sample (N = 958) was divided into eight subgroups (Octant
Groups) of patients with different predominant interpersonal problems, as
measured with the 64 item version of the Inventory of Interpersonal
Problems—IIP-64. Self-relatedness was measured with the Introject surface of
the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior—SASB Introject. ANCOVA analyses
showed that patients with more positive and self-accepting self-images
displayed domineering, but also warmer forms of interpersonal problems than
peers with more negative self-images. Dividing the self-relatedness variable
into Self-Hostile and Self-Accepting components yielded a new finding: patients
within different interpersonal Octant Groups differed significantly with regard
to Self- Acceptance, but not with respect to Self-Hostility. The former
component may be reflective of a more stable personality feature than
Self-Hostility, thereby rendering it less susceptible to change.