The relationship between self-difference, marriage anxiety and relationship sensitivity: A mediation model

Marital anxiety is a multidimensional psychological condition that encompasses individuals' emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses to elements such as responsibility, commitment, adjustment, and uncertainty related to the institution of marriage. This form of anxiety is directly associated with an individual's past relationship experiences, attachment style, interpersonal sensitivity, and self-structure. In this context, differentiation of self, which refers to the capacity to maintain internal coherence while setting healthy interpersonal boundaries, emerges as a significant determinant in the development of marital anxiety. The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of differentiation of self in the relationship between rejection sensitivity in romantic relationships and marital anxiety. The research employs a quantitative approach and is designed using the relational screening model, one of the general survey models. Data were collected through an online questionnaire (via Google Forms), utilizing the Differentiation of Self Scale, Marital Anxiety Scale, and Rejection Sensitivity in Romantic Relationships Scale. The study was conducted with 651 participants recruited through snowball sampling. The sample was limited to young adults (aged 20–35) who are single. Data analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro analysis developed by Hayes (2022). The findings revealed that individuals with high rejection sensitivity in romantic relationships also exhibited high levels of marital anxiety, and that the emotional cutoff dimension of self-differentiation played a particularly significant mediating role in this relationship. It was also found that higher levels of self-differentiation were associated with lower marital anxiety, whereas emotional reactivity and dependency on others did not have a direct effect. The results indicate that marital anxiety is shaped not only by individual factors but also by relational dynamics. In this regard, the tendency for emotional cutoff may hinder the formation of secure attachments and contribute to the avoidance of marriage. The findings of the study indicate that even when individuals exhibit high levels of rejection sensitivity in romantic relationships, a high level of differentiation of self has a mitigating effect on marriage anxiety. This suggests that differentiation of self may play a regulatory role by enhancing emotional awareness and the ability to cope with relational stress, thereby reducing anxiety related to the institution of marriage. Keywords: Differentiation of Self, Marital Anxiety, Rejection Sensitivity, Mediation