The mediating role of differentiation of self in the relationship between childhood traumas and identity styles

In this study, it is aimed to reveal the mediating role of differentiation of self in the relationship between childhood traumas and identity styles. This research is a relational study based on the descriptive survey model, which is one of the quantitative research methods. The research was carried out with a total of 665 participants, 365 women and 300 men, aged between 18-25. Personal information form, Childhood Trauma Scale, Identity Style Scale-5 and Differentiation of Self Scale were used. Independent Groups T-Test, One-Way Analysis of Variance for Unrelated Samples, Kruskal-Wallis H Analysis, Pearson Correlation Test, Simple Linear Regression Analysis and Path Analysis were used in the analysis of the data. The Mann-Whitney U Test and the Bonferroni Test, one of the Post-Hoc techniques, were used to determine the source of the significant difference. With the research, it was concluded that the differentiation of self participants differed significantly according to age, gender, sibling birth order, education level, perceived parental attitude and perceived future status. With the research, it was concluded that the identity styles of the participants differed significantly according to the sibling's birth order, education level, university field, parental union, perceived parental attitude and perceived future status. A positive relationship was found between childhood traumas and avoidance-oriented identity, and a negative relationship was found between informational-oriented identity. On the other hand, no significant relationship was found between childhood traumas and norm oriented identity. Similarly, a negative significant relationship was found between childhood traumas and differentiation of self. There was a negative relationship between differentiation of self and avoidance and norm oriented identity, and a positive relationship between informational oriented identity. It was concluded that childhood traumas predicted avoidance oriented identity style positively and Information oriented identity style negatively and significantly, whereas childhood traumas did not significantly predict norm oriented identity style. Again, it is among the results obtained that childhood traumas predicted the differentiation of self negatively and significantly. In addition, it was concluded that differentiation of self predicted avoidance and norm oriented identity style negatively, and informational oriented identity style positively and significantly. In the study, it was understood that childhood traumas positively predicted avoidance-oriented identity style, however, differentiation of self assumed a significant mediating effect reducing this effect.