TITLE:
An Examination of the Validity of the Differentiation-of-Self Hypothesis and Its Mechanism Related to Negative Life Event Aversion among Japanese University Students
AUTHORS:
Koji Kudo
KEYWORDS:
Differentiation of Self, Validity, Negative Life Events, Vulnerability, Aversion
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Medical Psychology,
Vol.9 No.3,
May
26,
2020
ABSTRACT: This study examined the validity of the differentiation-of-self
hypothesis for Japanese university students, and its mechanism in relation to
negative life event aversion. Although the
differentiation-of-self hypothesis is accepted as one of the basic hypotheses in the clinical field of family therapy in
Japan, empirical studies on the
subject are scarce. Further, there are few studies, internationally, on its
mechanism. A questionnaire survey was conducted with university students (n =
250) to measure their differentiation of self, maladaptive states, and negative
life event aversion. Compared to the
better-differentiated group, the less-differentiated group had higher scores
both for maladaptive states—somatic
symptoms (t(223) = -2.70, p = 0.008), social dysfunction (t(211.00) = -3.30, p = 0.001), and severe depression (t(208.78) = -4.08, p 0.001)—and negative life event
aversion—interpersonal domain (t(223)
= -3.96, p 0.001) and achievement domain (t(223) = -3.83, p 0.001). The results supported the validity of the
differentiation-of-self hypothesis for Japanese university students, and that
cognitive tendencies toward negative life events may be part of the mechanism
for less-differentiated individuals’ subsequent vulnerability. This suggests
the effectiveness of cognitive interventions.